18 human secreted proteins

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to novel human secreted proteins and isolated nucleic acids containing the coding regions of the genes encoding such proteins. Also provided are vectors, host cells, antibodies, and recombinant methods for producing human secreted proteins. The invention further relates to diagnostic and therapeutic methods useful for diagnosing and treating diseases, disorders, and/or conditions related to these novel human secreted proteins.

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/768,826, filed Jan. 25, 2001, which is acontinuation-in-part of PCT International Application Serial No.PCT/US00/22350, filed Aug. 15, 2000, which claims benefit under 35U.S.C. § 119(e) based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/148,759,filed Aug. 16, 1999, each of which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to newly identified polynucleotides,polypeptides encoded by these polynucleotides, antibodies that bindthese polypeptides, uses of such polynucleotides, polypeptides, andantibodies, and their production.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Unlike bacterium, which exist as a single compartment surroundedby a membrane, human cells and other eucaryotes are subdivided bymembranes into many functionally distinct compartments. Eachmembrane-bounded compartment, or organelle, contains different proteinsessential for the function of the organelle. The cell uses “sortingsignals,” which are amino acid motifs located within the protein, totarget proteins to particular cellular organelles.

[0004] One type of sorting signal, called a signal sequence, a signalpeptide, or a leader sequence, directs a class of proteins to anorganelle called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The ER separates themembrane-bounded proteins from all other types of proteins. Oncelocalized to the ER, both groups of proteins can be further directed toanother organelle called the Golgi apparatus. Here, the Golgidistributes the proteins to vesicles, including secretory vesicles, thecell membrane, lysosomes, and the other organelles.

[0005] Proteins targeted to the ER by a signal sequence can be releasedinto the extracellular space as a secreted protein. For example,vesicles containing secreted proteins can fuse with the cell membraneand release their contents into the extracellular space—a process calledexocytosis. Exocytosis can occur constitutively or after receipt of atriggering signal. In the latter case, the proteins are stored insecretory vesicles (or secretory granules) until exocytosis istriggered. Similarly, proteins residing on the cell membrane can also besecreted into the extracellular space by proteolytic cleavage of a“linker” holding the protein to the membrane.

[0006] Despite the great progress made in recent years, only a smallnumber of genes encoding human secreted proteins have been identified.These secreted proteins include the commercially valuable human insulin,interferon, Factor VIII, human growth hormone, tissue plasminogenactivator, and erythropoeitin. Thus, in light of the pervasive role ofsecreted proteins in human physiology, a need exists for identifying andcharacterizing novel human secreted proteins and the genes that encodethem. This knowledge will allow one to detect, to treat, and to preventmedical diseases, disorders, and/or conditions by using secretedproteins or the genes that encode them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to novel polynucleotides and theencoded polypeptides. Moreover, the present invention relates tovectors, host cells, antibodies, and recombinant and synthetic methodsfor producing the polypeptides and polynucleotides. Also provided arediagnostic methods for detecting diseases, disorders, and/or conditionsrelated to the polypeptides and polynucleotides, and therapeutic methodsfor treating such diseases, disorders, and/or conditions. The inventionfurther relates to screening methods for identifying binding partners ofthe polypeptides.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008] Definitions

[0009] The following definitions are provided to facilitateunderstanding of certain terms used throughout this specification.

[0010] In the present invention, “isolated” refers to material removedfrom its original environment (e.g., the natural environment if it isnaturally occurring), and thus is altered “by the hand of man” from itsnatural state. For example, an isolated polynucleotide could be part ofa vector or a composition of matter, or could be contained within acell, and still be “isolated” because that vector, composition ofmatter, or particular cell is not the original environment of thepolynucleotide. The term “isolated” does not refer to genomic or cDNAlibraries, whole cell total or mRNA preparations, genomic DNApreparations (including those separated by electrophoresis andtransferred onto blots), sheared whole cell genomic DNA preparations orother compositions where the art demonstrates no distinguishing featuresof the polynucleotide/sequences of the present invention.

[0011] In the present invention, a “secreted” protein refers to thoseproteins capable of being directed to the ER, secretory vesicles, or theextracellular space as a result of a signal sequence, as well as thoseproteins released into the extracellular space without necessarilycontaining a signal sequence. If the secreted protein is released intothe extracellular space, the secreted protein can undergo extracellularprocessing to produce a “mature” protein. Release into the extracellularspace can occur by many mechanisms, including exocytosis and proteolyticcleavage.

[0012] In specific embodiments, the polynucleotides of the invention areat least 15, at least 30, at least 50, at least 100, at least 125, atleast 500, or at least 1000 continuous nucleotides but are less than orequal to 300 kb, 200 kb, 100 kb, 50 kb, 15 kb, 10 kb, 7.5 kb, 5 kb, 2.5kb, 2.0 kb, or 1 kb, in length. In a further embodiment, polynucleotidesof the invention comprise a portion of the coding sequences, asdisclosed herein, but do not comprise all or a portion of any intron. Inanother embodiment, the polynucleotides comprising coding sequences donot contain coding sequences of a genomic flanking gene (i.e., 5′ or 3′to the gene of interest in the genome). In other embodiments, thepolynucleotides of the invention do not contain the coding sequence ofmore than 1000, 500, 250, 100, 50, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1genomic flanking gene(s).

[0013] As used herein, a “polynucleotide” refers to a molecule having anucleic acid sequence contained in SEQ ID NO:X or the cDNA containedwithin the clone deposited with the ATCC. For example, thepolynucleotide can contain the nucleotide sequence of the full lengthcDNA sequence, including the 5′ and 3′ untranslated sequences, thecoding region, with or without the signal sequence, the secreted proteincoding region, as well as fragments, epitopes, domains, and variants ofthe nucleic acid sequence. Moreover, as used herein, a “polypeptide”refers to a molecule having the translated amino acid sequence generatedfrom the polynucleotide as broadly defined.

[0014] In the present invention, the full length sequence identified asSEQ ID NO:X was often generated by overlapping sequences contained inmultiple clones (contig analysis). A representative clone containing allor most of the sequence for SEQ ID NO:X was deposited with the AmericanType Culture Collection (“ATCC”). As shown in Table 1, each clone isidentified by a cDNA Clone ID (Identifier) and the ATCC Deposit Number.The ATCC is located at 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va.20110-2209, USA. The ATCC deposit was made pursuant to the terms of theBudapest Treaty on the international recognition of the deposit ofmicroorganisms for purposes of patent procedure.

[0015] A “polynucleotide” of the present invention also includes thosepolynucleotides capable of hybridizing, under stringent hybridizationconditions, to sequences contained in SEQ ID NO:X, the complementthereof, or the cDNA within the clone deposited with the ATCC.“Stringent hybridization conditions” refers to an overnight incubationat 42 degree C. in a solution comprising 50% formamide, 5×SSC (750 mMNaCl, 75 mM trisodium citrate), 50 mM sodium phosphate (pH 7.6), 5×Denhardt's solution, 10% dextran sulfate, and 20 μg/ml denatured,sheared salmon sperm DNA, followed by washing the filters in 0.1×SSC atabout 65 degree C.

[0016] Also contemplated are nucleic acid molecules that hybridize tothe polynucleotides of the present invention at lower stringencyhybridization conditions. Changes in the stringency of hybridization andsignal detection are primarily accomplished through the manipulation offormamide concentration (lower percentages of formamide result inlowered stringency); salt conditions, or temperature. For example, lowerstringency conditions include an overnight incubation at 37 degree C. ina solution comprising 6×SSPE (20×SSPE=3M NaCl; 0.2M NaH₂PO₄; 0.02M EDTA,pH 7.4), 0.5% SDS, 30% formamide, 100 ug/ml salmon sperm blocking DNA;followed by washes at 50 degree C. with 1×SSPE, 0.1% SDS. In addition,to achieve even lower stringency, washes performed following stringenthybridization can be done at higher salt concentrations (e.g. 5×SSC).

[0017] Note that variations in the above conditions may be accomplishedthrough the inclusion and/or substitution of alternate blocking reagentsused to suppress background in hybridization experiments. Typicalblocking reagents include Denhardt's reagent, BLOTTO, heparin, denaturedsalmon sperm DNA, and commercially available proprietary formulations.The inclusion of specific blocking reagents may require modification ofthe hybridization conditions described above, due to problems withcompatibility.

[0018] Of course, a polynucleotide which hybridizes only to polyA+sequences (such as any 3′ terminal polyA+ tract of a cDNA shown in thesequence listing), or to a complementary stretch of T (or U) residues,would not be included in the definition of “polynucleotide,” since sucha polynucleotide would hybridize to any nucleic acid molecule containinga poly (A) stretch or the complement thereof (e.g., practically anydouble-stranded cDNA clone generated using oligo dT as a primer).

[0019] The polynucleotide of the present invention can be composed ofany polyribonucleotide or polydeoxribonucleotide, which may beunmodified RNA or DNA or modified RNA or DNA. For example,polynucleotides can be composed of single- and double-stranded DNA, DNAthat is a mixture of single- and double-stranded regions, single- anddouble-stranded RNA, and RNA that is mixture of single- anddouble-stranded regions, hybrid molecules comprising DNA and RNA thatmay be single-stranded or, more typically, double-stranded or a mixtureof single- and double-stranded regions. In addition, the polynucleotidecan be composed of triple-stranded regions comprising RNA or DNA or bothRNA and DNA. A polynucleotide may also contain one or more modifiedbases or DNA or RNA backbones modified for stability or for otherreasons. “Modified” bases include, for example, tritylated bases andunusual bases such as inosine. A variety of modifications can be made toDNA and RNA; thus, “polynucleotide” embraces chemically, enzymatically,or metabolically modified forms.

[0020] The polypeptide of the present invention can be composed of aminoacids joined to each other by peptide bonds or modified peptide bonds,i.e., peptide isosteres, and may contain amino acids other than the 20gene-encoded amino acids. The polypeptides may be modified by eithernatural processes, such as posttranslational processing, or by chemicalmodification techniques which are well known in the art. Suchmodifications are well described in basic texts and in more detailedmonographs, as well as in a voluminous research literature.Modifications can occur anywhere in a polypeptide, including the peptidebackbone, the amino acid side-chains and the amino or carboxyl termini.It will be appreciated that the same type of modification may be presentin the same or varying degrees at several sites in a given polypeptide.Also, a given polypeptide may contain many types of modifications.Polypeptides may be branched, for example, as a result ofubiquitination, and they may be cyclic, with or without branching.Cyclic, branched, and branched cyclic polypeptides may result fromposttranslation natural processes or may be made by synthetic methods.Modifications include acetylation, acylation, ADP-ribosylation,amidation, covalent attachment of flavin, covalent attachment of a hememoiety, covalent attachment of a nucleotide or nucleotide derivative,covalent attachment of a lipid or lipid derivative, covalent attachmentof phosphotidylinositol, cross-linking, cyclization, disulfide bondformation, demethylation, formation of covalent cross-links, formationof cysteine, formation of pyroglutamate, formylation,gamma-carboxylation, glycosylation, GPI anchor formation, hydroxylation,iodination, methylation, myristoylation, oxidation, pegylation,proteolytic processing, phosphorylation, prenylation, racemization,selenoylation, sulfation, transfer-RNA mediated addition of amino acidsto proteins such as arginylation, and ubiquitination. (See, forinstance, PROTEINS-STRUCTURE AND MOLECULAR PROPERTIES, 2nd Ed., T. E.Creighton, W. H. Freeman and Company, New York (1993); POSTTRANSLATIONALCOVALENT MODIFICATION OF PROTEINS, B. C. Johnson, Ed., Academic Press,New York, pgs. 1-12 (1983); Seifter et al., Meth Enzymol 182:626-646(1990); Rattan et al., Ann NY Acad Sci 663:48-62 (1992).)

[0021] “SEQ ID NO:X” refers to a polynucleotide sequence while “SEQ IDNO:Y” refers to a polypeptide sequence, both sequences identified by aninteger specified in Table 1.

[0022] “A polypeptide having biological activity” refers to polypeptidesexhibiting activity similar, but not necessarily identical to, anactivity of a polypeptide of the present invention, including matureforms, as measured in a particular biological assay, with or withoutdose dependency. In the case where dose dependency does exist, it neednot be identical to that of the polypeptide, but rather substantiallysimilar to the dose-dependence in a given activity as compared to thepolypeptide of the present invention (i.e., the candidate polypeptidewill exhibit greater activity or not more than about 25-fold less and,preferably, not more than about tenfold less activity, and mostpreferably, not more than about three-fold less activity relative to thepolypeptide of the present invention.)

[0023] Polynucleotides and Polypeptides of the Invention

[0024] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 1

[0025] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA), a cell surface markeroverexpressed in prostate cancer (See, e.g., Genbank accession numberAAC39607.1 (AF 043498); all references available through this accessionare hereby incorporated by reference herein.). Based on the sequencesimilarity, the translation product of this clone is expected to shareat least some biological activities with PSCA and other stem cellantigens.

[0026] The identification of cell surface antigens is critical to thedevelopment of new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for themanagement of prostate cancer. Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) is aprostate-specific gene with 30% homology to stem cell antigen 2, amember of the Thy-1/Ly-6 family of glycosylphosphatidylinositol(GPI)-anchored cell surface antigens. PSCA encodes a 123-aa protein withan amino-terminal signal sequence, a carboxyl-terminal GPI-anchoringsequence, and multiple N-glycosylation sites. PSCA mRNA expression isprostate-specific in normal male tissues and is highly up-regulated inboth androgen-dependent and -independent prostate cancer xenografts(Reiter et al., PNAS, 95(4):1735-1740 (1998); this reference isincorporated herein by reference).

[0027] Preferred polypeptides comprise, or alternatively consist of, thefollowing amino acid sequence:MEKFPWQKLRVRTGCGGPQVCGGYHLCLAVLMGIPSPREGCRSWDVAAEVWTQRPRAAVLLLTGGGERTPRTQPGTEEATGPGACAGWIAQDTPNPFSKAGAGAGGEGTRQSAGRAGGEPGGGGEGPWVRVSW PPLLQGRQGG (SEQ ID NO: 49). Moreover,fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example,fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%,96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptidesencoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringentconditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides, or thecomplement there of are encompassed by the invention. Antibodies thatbind polypeptides of the invention are also encompassed by theinvention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are alsoencompassed by the invention.

[0028] This gene is expressed primarily in 12 week-old early stage humantissue, fetal heart and to a lesser extent in cerebellum.

[0029] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: cancer, disorders ofthe developing fetus and of the central nervous system, particularly ofthe cerebellum. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to thesepolypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes fordifferential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For anumber of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of thedeveloping fetus, neural, and immune system expression of this gene atsignificantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected incertain tissues or cell types (e.g., neural, immune, cancerous andwounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovialfluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or sample taken from anindividual having such a disorder, relative to the standard geneexpression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodilyfluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0030] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 30 as residues: Arg-16 to Arg-53, Lys-69 to Leu-79, Gln-81to Thr-88, His-106 to Cys-114, Pro-139 to Gly-155. Polynucleotidesencoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0031] The tissue distribution and homology to PSCA indicates thatpolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are usefulfor diagnosis and/or treatment of cancer, as well as, developmental andimmune disorders. For example, the proteins can be administeredtherapeutically to inhibit or reverse the development of tumors.Antibodies to the proteins can be used in diagnostic tests forconditions associated with protein expression in biological samples, bycombining a sample with the antibody under conditions suitable forantibody binding to the protein to form a complex, and detecting thecomplex. Antibodies to the protein are especially useful in diagnostictests for conditions/diseases such as leukemias or malignant localtumors associated with the gene expression. Preferably the antibody isbound to a solid support and the biological sample is serum.

[0032] The tissue distribution and homology to stem cells antigens alsoindicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to thisgene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immunesystem disorders. Representative uses are described in the “ImmuneActivity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13,14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, theexpression of this gene product indicates a role in regulating theproliferation; survival; differentiation; and/or activation ofhematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells. This geneproduct is involved in the regulation of cytokine production, antigenpresentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in thetreatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the geneis expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product isinvolved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agentfor immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma,immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis,granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne,neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cellmediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs andtissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, orautoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissueinjury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug inducedhemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, andscleroderma. Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor thatinfluences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or thatrecruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene productis thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committedprogenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/orproliferation of various cell types.

[0033] The tissue distribution in fetal tissue (e.g., heart) and othercellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this proteinmay play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may showutility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmentaldiseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferativeconditions. Representative uses are described in the “HyperproliferativeDisorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein.Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving celldifferentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation ofapoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, asoccurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control theextent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquiredimmunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinalmuscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation anddifferentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adultfor tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act asa morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore,the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are usefulin treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions,in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this proteinmay modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and would be useful inthe detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative orproliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful inmodulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist inproliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also beused to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth andproliferation.

[0034] Additionally, the tissue distribution in cerebellum indicatesthat the polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this genewould be useful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention ofneurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflammatoryconditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and“Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limitedto the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease,Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome,meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheralneuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cordinjuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages,schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder,depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses,autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleeppatterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression ofthis gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role innormal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved insynapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis,or neuronal differentiation or survival. Furthermore, the protein mayalso be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, astissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identifyagents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as anutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed againstthe protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapytargets for the above listed tissues.

[0035] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO: 11 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2233 of SEQID NO: 11, b is an integer of 15 to 2247, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO: 11, andwhere b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0036] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 2

[0037] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith fukutin (See, e.g., Genbank Accession number BAA32000 (AB008226);all references available through this accession are hereby incorporatedby reference herein.) which is thought to be important in Fukuyama-typecongenital muscular dystrophy, one of the most common autosomalrecessive disorders in Japan. Based on the sequence similarity, thetranslation product of this clone is expected to share at least somebiological activities with fukutin.

[0038] Preferred polypeptides comprise, or alternatively consist of, thefollowing amino acid sequence:MLSLEFLSWSVSPFPSPRHPSTPHRSHRASPHPDRPPKNKGEVIRASAASRQTQQCRVGVLGVLDDPGPELELQEAAVVVRRLRHEAGKGQGHQRLQEVLGKLHILPVVQPRVLGHDAIAGVEGPQVHVQVVAFAVLHAEKVALDRLLPYEAALIHHRAGLCPPQLLAVAHVLQVDAQVHVVVPWDDVPVAGGPQQSEQ ID NO:50@ andMREGWHWQEESTRTRMGSDLQIYQMVMPTGSRGYAWGHPGSSQSWRETGMSRRPAGPSTAPDPKKVFCPRFREPCALGQGQSFGNSAGSGARLARFKSWLYRFGARWAWGGVAVSLCLSCFQDAGPLAAGVASATRGRAGPAPGGPLWL PGDSTPRACVP (SEQ IDNO: 51). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (suchas, for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to thesepolypeptides and polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide whichhybridizes, under stringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encodingthese polypeptides, or the complement there of are encompassed by theinvention. Antibodies that bind polypeptides of the invention are alsoencompassed by the invention. Polynucleotides encoding thesepolypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0039] The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside onchromosome 1. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention areuseful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 1.

[0040] This gene is expressed primarily in Hodgkin's lymphoma, lungcancer and to a lesser extent in normal colon.

[0041] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: lung cancer, Hodgkin'sdisease, disorders of the colon, and Fukuyama-type congenital musculardystrophy. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to thesepolypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes fordifferential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For anumber of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of therespiratory, immune, and digestive system expression of this gene atsignificantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected incertain tissues or cell types (e.g., respiratory, immune, cancerous andwounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovialfluid, sputum, and spinal fluid) or another tissue or sample taken froman individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard geneexpression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodilyfluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0042] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 31 as residues: Ala-114 to Arg-121, Gly-145 to Arg-152,His-292 to Glu-297, Ala-318 to Arg-323, Asn-337 to Asn-342.Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by theinvention.

[0043] Homology to fukutin and tissue distribution indicates thatpolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are usefulfor detection, treatment, and prevention of Fukuyama-type congenitalmuscular dystrophy, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and disorders of the colon.Additionally, the tissue distribution in cancerous lung tissue suggeststhat the polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene isuseful for the detection and treatment of disorders associated withlungs, including but not limited to cancer.

[0044] The tissue distribution in lymphoid tissues also indicates thatthe polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene would beuseful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune systemdisorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity”and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18,19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of thisgene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival;differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages,including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in theregulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or otherprocesses suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. byboosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells oflymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immunefunctions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunologicaldisorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such asAIDS, leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatousdisease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia,neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediatedcytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, suchas host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunitydisorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury,demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolyticanemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influencesthe differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruitshematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product isthought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committedprogenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/orproliferation of various cell types. Additionally, the tissuedistribution in colon suggests that the polynucleotides and polypeptidescorresponding to this gene is useful for the diagnosis and/or treatmentof disorders involving the colon. Similarly, expression of this geneproduct in colon tissue suggests involvement in digestion, processing,and elimination of food, as well as a potential role for this gene as adiagnostic marker or causative agent in the development of colon cancer.Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biologicalactivity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognateligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate theirinteractions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement.Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may showutility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the abovelisted tissues.

[0045] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:12 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2630 of SEQID NO: 12, b is an integer of 15 to 2644, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:12, and whereb is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0046] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 3

[0047] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith recombinant endotoxin neutralizing polypeptide (RENP) whichselectively and specifically binds lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and hasendotoxin neutralizing activity. Additionally, the translation productof this gene shares sequence homology with bacteriocidal/permeabilityprotein (BPI) which has also been shown to neutralize the effects ofisolated Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharides both in vitro andin vivo. Thus, it is likely that the translation product of this geneshares some biological activity with RENP and BPI.

[0048] Preferred polypeptides comprise, or alternatively consist of, thefollowing amino acid sequence:MVQQGLLKNGAHQCAHLICINEAHVGGGHRELDIPQHRRGPLKLHLGHRELESQVHYHIQGEEGLESRVGGCGQDLHEGLQPQGGVVCVEHGHRCGTQPHLEHHRHGLGKLAGHLRDEPAQSRGVQQVVIRPQLPCDVQVEGTGLLQQQERRVKQLLGEAHGGHGALGTHMPWQHKRGGIRGQDDGLAQQEENSIDFQGNVVTGDSGHTDHGIADLGLRTHGVEAN(SEQ ID NO: 52). Moreover, fragments and variantsof these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as describedherein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by thepolynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to thepolynucleotide encoding these polypeptides, or the complement there ofare encompassed by the invention. Antibodies that bind polypeptides ofthe invention are also encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotidesencoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0049] This gene is expressed primarily in sinus piniformis tumor,normal trachea, normal larynx and to a lesser extent in olfactoryepithelium (nasal cavity) and human endometrial tumor.

[0050] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: disorders of thesinuses, trachea, larynx, and olfactory epithelium and cancers of thenasopharynx, trachea, sinus pinoformis, and endometrium. Similarly,polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful inproviding immunological probes for differential identification of thetissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the abovetissues or cells, particularly of the sinus cavity, respiratory andreproductive systems expression of this gene at significantly higher orlower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types(e.g., respiratory, reproductive, cancerous and wounded tissues) orbodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid, sputum, andspinal fluid) or another tissue or sample taken from an individualhaving such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level,i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from anindividual not having the disorder.

[0051] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 32 as residues: Phe-147 to Thr-153, Leu-285 to Asn-290.Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by theinvention.

[0052] The tissue distribution and homology to RENP and BPI indicatesthat polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene can beused to detect a site of Gram-negative bacterial infection and preventor treat endotoxin related disorders, preferably where LPS-mediatedstimulation of neutrophils and mononuclear cells is inhibited (e.g.,shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, anemia,thrombocytopaenia, adult respiratory distress syndrome, renal failure,liver disease and conditions associated with Gram-negative bacterialinfection). Additionally, based on the homology to BPI, the translationproduct of this gene could be applied to the cornea to reducehyperaemia, chemosis, mucous discharge, neovascularization and ulcerformation. The translation product of this gene could also be used totreat injuries such as perforation, abrasion, chemical burns and trauma.Furthermore, BPI is known to be active against many Gram-positivespecies, and some fungi; it also neutralizes heparin (and thus preventsheparin-induced angiogenesis) and endotoxins produced by Gram-negativebacteria. BPI products can penetrate the cornea and are not appreciablytoxic.

[0053] The tissue distribution in endometrium suggests that thepolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene is usefulfor treating female infertility and cancer of the uterus. The proteinproduct is likely involved in preparation of the endometrium ofimplantation and could be administered either topically or orally.Alternatively, this gene could be transfected in gene-replacementtreatments into the cells of the endometrium and the protein productscould be produced. Similarly, these treatments could be performed duringartificial insemination for the purpose of increasing the likelihood ofimplantation and development of a healthy embryo. In both cases thisgene or its gene product could be administered at later stages ofpregnancy to promote healthy development of the endometrium.Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biologicalactivity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognateligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate theirinteractions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement.Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may showutility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the abovelisted tissues.

[0054] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO: 13 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1810 of SEQID NO: 13, b is an integer of 15 to 1824, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO: 13, andwhere b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0055] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 4

[0056] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith human leptin which is a newly discovered hormone that acts as afeedback signal from the adipose tissue (See, e.g., Blum WF, Horm. Res.,48 Suppl 4:2-8 (1997); Auwerx and Staels, Lancet, 351(9104):737-42(1998)); all information available through these references are herebyincorporated by reference herein.). Leptin plays a pivotal role in themodulation of neuronal and hormonal systems involved in the regulationof body weight and reproductive functions. Additionally, the translationproduct of this gene shares sequence homology with interferon-gammawhich is produced by T-cells and NK cells and is important in theregulation of immune cells and the immune response.

[0057] This gene is expressed primarily in melanocytes, placenta, immunecells (e.g., germinal B-cells, T-cells, macrophage) and to a lesserextent in cancerous tissues (e.g., parathyroid, tongue, and ovary),testes, fetal tissue (e.g., liver, spleen), pancreas, and other tissues.

[0058] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: disorders of theendocrine and exocrine systems, immune system and cancer, particularlyof the immune cells, parathyroid, tongue, and ovaries. Similarly,polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful inproviding immunological probes for differential identification of thetissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the abovetissues or cells, particularly of the endocrine, exocrine, reproductive,and immune system expression of this gene at significantly higher orlower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types(e.g., metabolic system, immune, neural, cancerous and wounded tissues)or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinalfluid) or another tissue or sample taken from an individual having sucha disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., theexpression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individualnot having the disorder.

[0059] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 33 as residues: Met-1 to Gly-6, Ser-96 to Ile-101, Val-147to Lys-154. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are alsoencompassed by the invention.

[0060] The tissue distribution and homology to leptins indicates thatpolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are usefulfor treating disorders of the adipose tissue, obesity, metabolic andneuroendocrine dysfunction. Additionally, the tissue distribution inimmune cells such as B-cells, T-cells, and macrophages indicates thatthe polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene would beuseful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune systemdisorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity”and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18,19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of thisgene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival;differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages,including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in theregulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or otherprocesses suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. byboosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells oflymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immunefunctions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunologicaldisorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such asAIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease,inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia,psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity;immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such ashost-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunitydisorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury,demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolyticanemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influencesthe differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruitshematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product isthought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committedprogenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/orproliferation of various cell types. The tissue distribution inendocrine tissues indicates the polynucleotides and polypeptidescorresponding to this gene would be useful for the detection, treatment,and/or prevention of various endocrine disorders and cancers.Representative uses are described in the “Biological Activity”,“Hyperproliferative Disorders”, and “Binding Activity” sections below,in Example 11, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, theprotein can be used for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention ofAddison's disease, Cushing's Syndrome, and disorders and/or cancers ofthe pancreas (e.g. diabetes mellitus), adrenal cortex, ovaries,pituitary (e.g., hyper-, hypopituitarism), thyroid (e.g. hyper-,hypothyroidism), parathyroid (e.g. hyper-, hypoparathyroidism),hypothallamus, and testes. Furthermore, the protein may also be used todetermine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers,to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents thatmodulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritionalsupplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the proteinmay show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for theabove listed tissues.

[0061] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:14 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1046 of SEQID NO: 14, b is an integer of 15 to 1060, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:14, and whereb is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0062] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 5

[0063] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith Toll proteins (See, e.g., Genbank accession numbers AAA29811.1(Q26476) and AAC34137 (U88540.1); all references and informationavailable through these accessions are hereby incorporated by referenceherein) which is thought to be important in cell signaling. TheToll-related proteins can be used to alter phosphate metabolism and inmodulation of inflammatory function and innate immune responses. TheToll-related proteins can also be used in the treatment of conditionsexhibiting abnormal expression of the receptors of their ligands. Theseabnormalities are typically manifested by immunological disorders.Additionally, the translation product of this gene has homology topro-TNF convertase which is capable of cleaving human proTNF-alpha tothe soluble, mature protein. TNF-convertase can be used to produceantibodies and antigen binding fragments which specifically bind toconvertases and have therapeutic applications (e.g., can inhibit TNFalpha which is implicated in cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal andcentral nervous system diseases, inflammation and responses to injury,pathogen invasion and neoplasia). In another embodiment, polypeptidescomprising the amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream ofthe predicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention.

[0064] Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, the following amino acid sequence:PGRPTRPLKFVILHAEDDTDEALRVQNLLQDDFGIKPGIIFAEMPCGRQHLQNLDDAVNGSAWTILLLTENFLRDTWCNFQFYTSLMNSVNRQHKYNSVIPMRPLNNPLPRERTPFALQTINALEEESRGFPTQVERIFQESVYKTQQTIWKETRNMV QRQFIA (SEQ ID NO:53). Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as,for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%,85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides andpolypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, understringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides,or the complement there of are encompassed by the invention. Antibodiesthat bind polypeptides of the invention are also encompassed by theinvention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are alsoencompassed by the invention.

[0065] This gene is expressed primarily in fetal tissue (e.g., spleen,liver, lung), placenta, stromal osteoclastomas, melanocytes and to alesser extent in smooth muscle, amniotic cells, T-cell lymphomas,cancerous stomach, dendritic cells, microvascular endothelial cells, andgerminal B-cells.

[0066] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: disorders of thedeveloping fetus, immune system disorders, vascular diseases, stomachcancer, and cancer, in general. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodiesdirected to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunologicalprobes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s).For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly ofthe immune system and of the developing fetus expression of this gene atsignificantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected incertain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and woundedtissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid,amniotic, and spinal fluid) or another tissue or sample taken from anindividual having such a disorder, relative to the standard geneexpression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodilyfluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0067] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 34 as residues: Val-47 to Asn-54, Pro-65 to Thr-71, Glu-82to Phe-88, Ser-99 to Met-114. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptidesare also encompassed by the invention.

[0068] The tissue distribution and homology to Toll proteins indicatesthat polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene areuseful for altering phosphate metabolism and in modulation ofinflammatory function and innate immune responses.

[0069] The tissue distribution and homology to pro-TNF convertaseindicates that the translation product of this gene can be used toproduce antibodies and antigen binding fragments which specifically bindto convertases and have therapeutic applications (e.g., inhibition ofTNF alpha which is implicated in cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinaland central nervous system diseases, inflammation and responses toinjury, pathogen invasion and neoplasia).

[0070] The tissue distribution in immune cells and homology to Tollproteins also indicates that the polynucleotides and polypeptidescorresponding to this gene would be useful for the diagnosis andtreatment of a variety of immune system disorders. Representative usesare described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sectionsbelow, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhereherein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role inregulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/oractivation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells.This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production,antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in thetreatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the geneis expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product isinvolved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agentfor immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma,immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis,granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne,neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cellmediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs andtissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, orautoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissueinjury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug inducedhemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, andscleroderma. Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor thatinfluences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or thatrecruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene productis thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committedprogenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/orproliferation of various cell types. The expression of this gene withinfetal tissue and other cellular sources marked by proliferating cellsindicates this protein may play a role in the regulation of cellulardivision, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/orprevention of developmental diseases and disorders, including cancer,and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses are described inthe “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below andelsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisionsinvolving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation.Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression ofcell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failureto control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquiredimmunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinalmuscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation anddifferentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adultfor tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act asa morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore,the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are usefulin treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions,in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this proteinmay modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and would be useful inthe detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative orproliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful inmodulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist inproliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also beused to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth andproliferation.

[0071] Moreover, the tissue distribution in microvascular endothelialcells and smooth muscle indicates that the polynucleotides andpolypeptides corresponding to this gene would be useful in thedetection, treatment, and/or prevention of a variety of vasculardisorders and conditions, which include, but are not limited tomiscrovascular disease, vascular leak syndrome, aneurysm, stroke,embolism, thrombosis, coronary artery disease, arteriosclerosis, and/oratherosclerosis. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determinebiological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolatecognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate theirinteractions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement.Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may showutility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the abovelisted tissues.

[0072] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO: 15 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1846 of SEQID NO: 15, b is an integer of 15 to 1860, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO: 15, andwhere b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0073] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 6

[0074] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith the Best macular dystrophy (BMD) gene (Genbank accession AAC33766.1(AF073501) and AAC64344.1 (AF057170.1); all references available throughthis accession are hereby incorporated by reference herein.) which isthought to be important in the occurrence of Best macular dystrophy, anautosomal dominant form of macular degeneration characterized by anabnormal accumulation of lipofuscin within and beneath the retinalpigment epithelium cells. This disease is also known as vitelliformmacular dystrophy (VMD). In another embodiment, polypeptides comprisingthe amino acid sequence of the open reading frame upstream of thepredicted signal peptide are contemplated by the present invention.

[0075] Specifically, polypeptides of the invention comprise thefollowing amino acid sequence:RVDPRVRGRVGFESLKSDFNKYWVPCVWFTNLAAQARRDGRIRDDIALCLLLEELNKYRAKCSMLFHYDWISIPLVYTQVVTIAVYSFFALSLVGRQFVEPEAGAAKPQKLLKPGQEPAPALGDPDMYVPLTTLLQFFFYAGWLKVAEQIINPFGEDDDDFETNQLIDRNLQVSLLSVDEMYQNLPPAEKDQYWDEDQPQPPYTVATAAESLRPSFLGSTFNLRMSDDPEQSLQVEASPGSGRPAPAAQTPLLGRFLGVGAPSPAISLRNFGRVRGTPRPPHLLRFRAEEGGDPEAAARIEEESAESGDEALEP (SEQ ID NO: 54).Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, forexample, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%,90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides andpolypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, understringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides,or the complement there of are encompassed by the invention. Antibodiesthat bind polypeptides of the invention are also encompassed by theinvention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are alsoencompassed by the invention.

[0076] This gene is expressed primarily in colon.

[0077] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: Best macular dystrophy.Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptidesare useful in providing immunological probes for differentialidentification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number ofdisorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of the retina,expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may beroutinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., cancerous andwounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, tears,synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or sample taken froman individual having such a disorder, relative to the standard geneexpression level, i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodilyfluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0078] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 35 as residues: Ala-43 to Leu-48, Phe-91 to Thr-100,Leu-122 to Tyr-140, Arg-161 to Gln-168, Pro-176 to Pro-181, Asn-207 toPro-217, Ala-225 to Glu-232, Glu-238 to Gly-245. Polynucleotidesencoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0079] The tissue distribution and homology to BMD indicates thatpolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are usefulfor the diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of Best maculardystrophy and other diseases and disorders of the eyes. The tissuedistribution in colon suggests that the polynucleotides and polypeptidescorresponding to this gene is useful for the diagnosis and/or treatmentof disorders involving the colon. Additionally, expression of this geneproduct in colon tissue suggests involvement in digestion, processing,and elimination of food, as well as a potential role for this gene as adiagnostic marker or causative agent in the development of colon cancer,and cancer in general. Furthermore, the protein may also be used todetermine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers,to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents thatmodulate their interactions, in addition to its use as a nutritionalsupplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the proteinmay show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for theabove listed tissues.

[0080] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:16 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1336 of SEQID NO: 16, b is an integer of 15 to 1350, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO: 16, andwhere b is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0081] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 7

[0082] The translation product on this gene shares sequence homologywith human galectin genes (See, e.g., Genbank accession numbers CAA62904(X91790.1), BAA22165 (AB006781.1), and AAC04508 (AF026796.1); allreferences available through these accessions are hereby incorporated byreference herein.). Galectins are a family of the lectin superfamily ofcarbohydrate-binding proteins which have a high affinity forbeta-galactoside sugars. Despite the fact that the cellular milieucontains a large number of beta-galactoside-containing glycoconjugates,few naturally occurring glycoconjugates have been shown to bind tospecific galectins in vitro, suggesting that interactions betweengalectins and glycoconjugates are physiologically significant (i.e.,galectins do not bind promiscuously to all naturally-occurringglycoconjugates). Galectins are expressed in a wide variety of tissuesin mammals including but not limited to muscle, neurons, lung, brain,activated macrophages, tumors, intestinal epithelium, stomach, andkeratinocytes. Some galectins have been shown to be secreted (e.g.,galectin 1, galectin-3, and galectin-7); however, all galectinscharacterized to date lack typical secretion signal peptides. Galectinshave been implicated in a wide variety of biological functions includingcell adhesion, growth regulation, cell migration, neoplastictransformation and immune responses. The discovery of polynucleotidesencoding human galectin homologs, and the molecules themselves, providesa means to investigate cell growth and development and immune functionunder normal and disease conditions.

[0083] Additionally, the translation product on this gene sharessequence homology with a putative tumor-associated antigen (PCTA)present on prostate cancer cells (Genbank accession # AAB51605.1(JC6174); all references available through this accession are herebyincorporated by reference herein.). PCTA is a new member of the galectinfamily. In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acidsequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signalpeptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically,polypeptides of the invention comprise the following amino acidsequence: NTTHYRESWYACRYRSGIPGSTHASAGSVADSDAVVKLDDGHLNNSLSSPVQ (SEQ IDNO: 55) ADVYFPRLIVPFCGHIKGGMRPGKKVLVMGIVDLNPESFAISLTCGDSEDPPADVAIELKAVFTDRQLLRNSCISGERGEEQSAIPYFPFIPDQPFRVEILCEHPRFRVFVDGHQLFDFYHRIQTLSAIDTIKINGDLQITKLG.

[0084] Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as,for example, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%,85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides andpolypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, understringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides,or the complement there of are encompassed by the invention. Antibodiesthat bind polypeptides of the invention are also encompassed by theinvention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are alsoencompassed by the invention.

[0085] The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside onchromosome 2. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention areuseful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 2.

[0086] This gene is expressed primarily in fetal tissue (e.g., liver,spleen) and 8 week embryo tissue.

[0087] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: fetal and embryonicdevelopment disorders, immune disorders, and cancer. Similarly,polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful inproviding immunological probes for differential identification of thetissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the abovetissues or cells, particularly of the fetus and embryo expression ofthis gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinelydetected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, fetal tissue,embryonic tissue, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g.,amniotic, serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) oranother tissue or sample taken from an individual having such adisorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., theexpression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individualnot having the disorder.

[0088] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 36 as residues: Gly-27 to Pro-33, Glu-58 to Ala-65.Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by theinvention.

[0089] The tissue distribution and homology to galectins and PCTAindicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to thisgene are useful for providing new diagnostic or therapeutic compositionsuseful in diagnosing and treating disorders relating to hematopoiesis,immune dysfunction, inflammation, or cancer. Additionally, theexpression within fetal tissue and other cellular sources marked byproliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role in theregulation of cellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis,treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders,including cancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representativeuses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and“Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly,developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiationand/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis canresult in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in thedevelopment of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of celldeath, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certainneurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, thisgene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regenerationand the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to controlcell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides andpolypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting,and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to othertypes of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulateapoptosis or tissue differentiation and would be useful in thedetection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferativeconditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immuneresponse to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating andcancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain newinsight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation.Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biologicalactivity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognateligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate theirinteractions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement.Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may showutility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the abovelisted tissues.

[0090] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO: 17 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1177 of SEQID NO: 17, b is an integer of 15 to 1191, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:17, and whereb is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0091] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 8

[0092] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith human dendritic cell receptor DEC-205 (Genbank Accession numberAAC17636.1 (AF0 11333); all references available through this accessionare hereby incorporated by reference herein.) which is thought to beimportant in cell signaling and immune function. DEC-205 is an integralmembrane protein found primarily on dendritic cells, but also in thymic,lung and small intestine epithelial cells and brain capillaries. The 205kDa protein has 10 lectin domains, a transmembrane domain, cytoplasmictail, and a coated pit localization consensus sequence. It can beproduced in recombinant host cells, esp. CHO, COS, MDCK and NIH3T3cells.

[0093] The translation product of this gene also shares sequencehomology with GP200-MR6 protein (see, e.g., Genbank accession numberAAC62622.1 (AF064827); all references available through this accessionare hereby incorporated by reference herein.) which is functionallyassociated with the IL-4 receptor, modulates B cell phenotype and is anovel member of the human macrophage mannose receptor family.

[0094] In another embodiment, polypeptides comprising the amino acidsequence of the open reading frame upstream of the predicted signalpeptide are contemplated by the present invention. Specifically,polypeptides of the invention comprise, or alternatively consist of, thefollowing amino acid sequence:LRAALPALLLPLLGLAAAAVADCPSSTWIQFQDSCYIFLQEAIKVESIEDVRNQCTDHGADMISIHNEEENAFILDTLKKQWKGPDDILLGMFYDTDDASFKWFDNSNMTFDKWTDQDDDEDLVDTCAFLHIKTGEWKKGNCEVSSVEGTLCKTAIPYKRKYLSDNHILISALVIASTVILTVLGAIIWFLYKKHSDSRFTTVFSTAPQSPYNEDCVLVVGEENEYPVQFD (SEQ ID NO: 56). Moreover, fragments and variants ofthese polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as described herein,polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by thepolynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to thepolynucleotide encoding these polypeptides, or the complement there ofare encompassed by the invention. Antibodies that bind polypeptides ofthe invention are also encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotidesencoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0095] The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside onchromosome 2. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention areuseful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 2.

[0096] This gene is expressed primarily in dendritic cells, testes,pineal gland and to a lesser extent in hepatocellular and lung tumors,kidney, placenta, fibroblasts, and prostate.

[0097] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: immune disorders,dendritic cell dysfunction, endocrine disorders, and cancer,particularly of the liver and lung. Similarly, polypeptides andantibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providingimmunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) orcell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells,particularly of the dendritic cell, testes, connective tissue, andpineal gland expression of this gene at significantly higher or lowerlevels may be routinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g.,immune, endocrine tissues, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodilyfluids (e.g., serum, amniotic, plasma, urine, synovial fluid, seminaland spinal fluid) or another tissue or sample taken from an individualhaving such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level,i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from anindividual not having the disorder.

[0098] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 37 as residues: Leu-17 to Asp-25, Phe-43 to Met-48, Phe-50to Asp-61, Gly-74 to Asn-80, Lys-98 to Asp-104, Tyr-131 to Arg-138,Pro-147 to Asp-154. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are alsoencompassed by the invention.

[0099] The tissue distribution and homology to human dendritic cellreceptors indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides correspondingto this gene are useful for investigating cell-to-cell communication anddendritic cell function. Additionally, the polynucleotides andpolypeptides corresponding to this gene is useful for identifying DECligands which can be utilized to target antigens to dendritic cells, toprovide tolerance when dendritic cells are quiescent, or for immunestimulation (i.e. vaccination) when the dendritic cells are activatede.g. by stimulation with a cytokine.

[0100] The tissue distribution and homology to GP200-MR6 proteinindicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to thisgene are useful for modulating B cell phenotype. The tissue distributionin dendritic cells indicates that the polynucleotides and polypeptidescorresponding to this gene would be useful for the diagnosis andtreatment of a variety of immune system disorders. Representative usesare described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sectionsbelow, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhereherein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role inregulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/oractivation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells.This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production,antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in thetreatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the geneis expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product isinvolved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agentfor immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma,immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis,granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne,neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cellmediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs andtissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, orautoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissueinjury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug inducedhemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, andscleroderma. Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor thatinfluences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or thatrecruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene productis thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committedprogenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/orproliferation of various cell types.

[0101] The tissue distribution in pineal gland indicates that thepolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene would beuseful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention ofneurodegenerative disease states, sensory disorders, behavioraldisorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative uses are describedin the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below,in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the usesinclude, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/orprevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington'sDisease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinatingdiseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenitalmalformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms,hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessivecompulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities,ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders infeeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevatedexpression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates itplays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene productis involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning,cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival. Thetissue distribution in testes tissue indicates that polynucleotides andpolypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the diagnosisand/or treatment of male reproductive and endocrine disorders. It mayalso prove to be valuable in the diagnosis and treatment of testicularcancer, as well as cancers of other tissues where expression has beenobserved. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determinebiological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolatecognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate theirinteractions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement.Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may showutility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the abovelisted tissues.

[0102] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO: 18 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 792 of SEQID NO: 18, b is an integer of 15 to 806, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:18, and whereb is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0103] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 9

[0104] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith “Siglecs” (Sialic acid binding Ig-related lectins), a recentlydesignated family of cell surface molecules (see, e.g., Genbankaccession numbers CAB46011.1 (AJ007395), AAD26428.1 (AF135027), BAA24983(043699); all references available through this accession are herebyincorporated by reference herein.). The Siglec family is a structurallyrelated subgroup of the immunoglobulin superfamily that includes CD22(siglec-2), sialoadhedsin (siglec-1), myelin-associated glycoprotein(MAG, siglec-4), and CD33 (siglec-3). These proteins share commonstructural features that would appear to adapt these molecules forfunctional protein-carbohydrate cellular interactions. These proteinsare also expressed in immune tissues such as B cells, macrophages,myelinating oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells. Siglecs are thought tobe important in diverse biological processes including but not limitedto hemopoiesis, neuronal development and immunity. Further, theseproteins are likely to mediate cell-to-cell interactions.

[0105] The polypeptide of this gene has been determined to have atransmembrane domain at about amino acid position 486-502 of the aminoacid sequence referenced in Table 1 for this gene. Moreover, aextracellular domain encompassing amino acids 1-485 and a intracellulardomain encompassing amino acids 503-595 of this protein has also beendetermined. Based upon these characteristics, it is believed that theprotein product of this gene shares structural features to type Iamembrane proteins.

[0106] This gene is expressed primarily in placenta, spleen, lung, andimmune cells, particularly neutrophils and basophils.

[0107] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: disorders and/ordiseases of the immune cells (e.g. hemopoietic disorders), placenta,spleen, and lungs. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed tothese polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes fordifferential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For anumber of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of theimmune system, lungs, placenta, and spleen expression of this gene atsignificantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected incertain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, respiratory system,cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma,sputum, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue orsample taken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to thestandard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthytissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0108] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 38 as residues: Gly-17 to Asp-23, Ser-47 to Trp-53, Gln-86to Asp-91, Gly-97 to Asp-103, Arg-109 to Gly-117, Arg-125 to Trp-130,Thr-207 to Gly-218, Pro-226 to Cys-231, Asp-237 to Lys-245, Glu-251 toTrp-257, Glu-284 to Leu-291, Gln-332 to Thr-338, Lys-439 to Phe-444,Cys-446 to Gly-453, Gln-464 to Lys-470, Ser-504 to Ala-510.Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by theinvention.

[0109] The tissue distribution and homology to Siglecs indicates thatpolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene areimportant in diverse biological processes including but not limited tohemopoiesis, neuronal development and immunity.

[0110] The tissue distribution in immune cells (e.g., neutrophils andbasophils) and homology to Siglecs indicates that the polynucleotidesand polypeptides corresponding to this gene would be useful for thediagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune system disorders.Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and“Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19,20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of this geneproduct indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival;differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages,including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in theregulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or otherprocesses suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. byboosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells oflymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immunefunctions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunologicaldisorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such asAIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease,inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia,psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity;immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such ashost-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunitydisorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury,demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolyticanemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influencesthe differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruitshematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product isthought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committedprogenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/orproliferation of various cell types. The tissue distribution in placentasuggests that the polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to thisgene is useful for the diagnosis and/or treatment of disorders of theplacenta.

[0111] Specific expression within the placenta suggests that this geneproduct may play a role in the proper establishment and maintenance ofplacental function. Alternately, this gene product may be produced bythe placenta and then transported to the embryo, where it may play acrucial role in the development and/or survival of the developing embryoor fetus. Expression of this gene product in a vascular-rich tissue suchas the placenta also suggests that this gene product may be producedmore generally in endothelial cells or within the circulation. In suchinstances, it may play more generalized roles in vascular function, suchas in angiogenesis. It may also be produced in the vasculature and haveeffects on other cells within the circulation, such as hematopoieticcells. It may serve to promote the proliferation, survival, activation,and/or differentiation of hematopoietic cells, as well as other cellsthroughout the body.

[0112] The tissue distribution in lungs suggests that thepolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene is usefulfor the detection and treatment of disorders associated with developinglungs, particularly in premature infants where the lungs are the lasttissues to develop. Additionally, polynucleotides and polypeptidescorresponding to this gene is useful for the diagnosis and interventionof lung tumors, since the gene may be involved in the regulation of celldivision, particularly since it is expressed in fetal tissue.Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biologicalactivity, raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognateligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate theirinteractions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement.Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may showutility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the abovelisted tissues.

[0113] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:19 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 2246 of SEQID NO: 19, b is an integer of 15 to 2260, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:19, and whereb is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0114] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 10 101141 The translationproduct of this gene shares sequence homology with neogenin (See, e.g.,Genbank Accession numbers AAB17263.1 (U61262.1), AAB41099 (U68721.1),AAC51287 (U72391.1); all references available through these accessionsare hereby incorporated by reference herein.). Neogenin was firstidentified in the chick embryo, and like a number of cell surfaceproteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily, it is expressed on growingnerve cells in the developing nervous system of vertebrate embryos.Neogenin is also expressed in other embryonic tissues, suggesting a moregeneral role in developmental processes such as tissue growthregulation, cell-cell recognition, and cell migration. Neogenin isclosely related to a unique tumor suppressor candidate molecule, DCC,which is deleted in colorectal carcinoma.

[0115] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise,or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence:MSSNGIPECYAEEDEFSGLETDTAVPTEEAYVIYDEDYEFETSRPPTTTEPSTTATTPRVIPEEGAISSFPEEEFDLAGRKRFVAPYVTYLNKDPSAPCSLTDALDHFQVDSLDEIIPNDLKKSDLPPQHAPRNITVVAVEGCHSFVIVDWDKATPGDVVTGYLVYSASYEDFIRNKWSTQASSVTHLPIENLKPNTRYYFKVQAQNPHGYGPISPSVSFVTESDNPLLVVRPPGGEPIWIPFAFKHDPSYTDCHGRQYVKRTWYRKFVGVVLCNSLRYKIYLSDNLKDTFYSIGDSWGRGEDHCQFVDSHLDGRTGPQSYVEALPTIQGYYRQYRQEPVRFGNIGFGTPYYYVGWYECGVSIPGKW (SEQ ID NO: 57).Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, forexample, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%,90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides andpolypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, understringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides,or the complement there of are encompassed by the invention. Antibodiesthat bind polypeptides of the invention are also encompassed by theinvention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are alsoencompassed by the invention.

[0116] This gene is expressed primarily in cancerous tissue,particularly colon, ovarian, uterine, synovial, B-cells, and pancreas,Hodgkin's lymphoma and to a lesser extent in fetal tissue (e.g., liver,spleen, heart, lung) and osteoblasts.

[0117] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: fetal developmentaldisorders, cancer of the colon, ovaries, uterus, synovium, B-cells,Hodgkin's lymphoma and cancer, in general. Similarly, polypeptides andantibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providingimmunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) orcell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells,particularly of the colon, ovaries, uterus, synovium, and immune systemexpression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may beroutinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune,cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma,urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or sampletaken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to thestandard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthytissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0118] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 39 as residues: Glu-41 to Thr-53, Asp-120 to Arg-133,Asp-172 to Gln-181, Glu-191 to Arg-198, Ala-205 to Tyr-211, Phe-245 toTyr-259. Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassedby the invention.

[0119] The tissue distribution and homology to neogenin indicates thatpolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are usefulfor prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of cancer, particularly of thecolon, ovaries, uterus, synovium, B-cells, pancreas, and Hodgkin'slymphoma.

[0120] The tissue distribution in B-cells indicates that thepolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene would beuseful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune systemdisorders. Representative uses are described in the “immune Activity”and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18,19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of thisgene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival;differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages,including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in theregulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or otherprocesses suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. byboosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells oflymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immunefunctions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunologicaldisorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such asAIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease,inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia,psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity;immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such ashost-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunitydisorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury,demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolyticanemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influencesthe differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruitshematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product isthought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committedprogenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/orproliferation of various cell types.

[0121] The expression of this gene within fetal tissue and othercellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this proteinmay play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may showutility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmentaldiseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferativeconditions. Representative uses are described in the “HyperproliferativeDisorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein.Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving celldifferentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation ofapoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, asoccurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control theextent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquiredimmunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinalmuscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation anddifferentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adultfor tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act asa morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore,the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are usefulin treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions,in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this proteinmay modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and would be useful inthe detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative orproliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful inmodulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist inproliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also beused to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth andproliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determinebiological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolatecognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate theirinteractions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement.Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may showutility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the abovelisted tissues.

[0122] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:20 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1052 of SEQID NO:20, b is an integer of 15 to 1066, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:20, and whereb is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0123] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 11

[0124] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith MEGF-4 and SLIT-1 (See, e.g., BAA32460.1 (AB011539.1) andBAA35184.1 (AB017167); all references available through this accessionare hereby incorporated by reference herein.). The SLIT-1 gene encodes asecreted molecule essential for neural development in Drosophilaembryos. Mammalian Slit genes may participate in the formation andmaintenance of the nervous system and endocrine systems byprotein-protein interactions. The Slit/MEGF protein family share anumber of structural features such as N-terminal leucine-rich repeatsand C-terminal epidermal growth factor-like motif. Slit family proteinsare functional ligands of glypican-1 in nervous tissue and suggest thattheir interactions may be critical for certain stages of central nervoussystem histogenesis (Liang et al., J Biol Chem, 274 (25):17885-17892(1999); this reference is incorporated herein by reference.).

[0125] In specific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise,or alternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence:MTGLVDLTLSRNAITRIGARAFGDLESLRSLHLDGNRLVELGTGSLRGPVNLQHLILSGNQLGRIAPGAFDDFLESLEDLDLSYNNLRQVPWAGIGAMPALHTLNLDHNLIDALPPGAFAQLGQLSRLDLTSNRLATLAPDPLFSRGRDAEASPAPLVLSFSGNPLHCNCELLWLRRLARPDDLETCASPPGLAGRYFWAVPEGEFSCEPPLIARHTQRLWVLEGQRATLRCRALGDPAPTMHWVGPDDRLVGNSSRARAFPNGTLEIGXTGAGDAGGYTCIATNPAGEATARVELRVLALPHGGNSSAEGGRPGPSDLIASARTAAEGEGTLESEPAVQVTEVTATSGLVSWGPGRPADPVWMFQIQYNSSEDETLIYRIVPASSHHFLLKHLVPGADYDLCLLALSPAAGPSDLTATRLLGCAHFSTLPASPLCHALQAHVLGGTLTVAVGGVLVAALLVFTVALLVRGRGAGNGRLPLKLSHVQSQTNGGPSPTPKAHPPRSPPPRPQRSCSLDLGDAGCYGYARRLGGAWARRSHSVHGGLLGAGCRGVGGSAERLEESVV (SEQ ID NO: 58). Moreover,fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example,fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%,96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptidesencoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringentconditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides, or thecomplement there of are encompassed by the invention. Antibodies thatbind polypeptides of the invention are also encompassed by theinvention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are alsoencompassed by the invention.

[0126] This gene is expressed primarily in cancers of the prostate,synovium, breast, colon and to a lesser extent in smooth muscle andcerebellum.

[0127] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: prostate cancer, breastcancer, synovial carcinoma, disorders and/or diseases of the smoothmuscle. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed to thesepolypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes fordifferential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For anumber of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of theprostate, synovium, breast, colon, smooth muscle and cerebellum,expression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may beroutinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., prostate,breast, synovium, muscle, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodilyfluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) oranother tissue or sample taken from an individual having such adisorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., theexpression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individualnot having the disorder.

[0128] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 40 as residues: Ser-48 to Glu-54, Pro-105 to Cys-111,Gly-128 to Leu-133, Pro-150 to Val-155, Gly-207 to Pro-219, Pro-258 toAsp-263, Tyr-272 to Asp-277, Gly-374 to Gly-380, Gln-390 to Ser-416.Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by theinvention.

[0129] The tissue distribution and homology to MEGF4 and SLIT indicatesthat polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene areuseful for diagnosis and treatment of disease states that affect theformation and maintenance of the nervous system and endocrine systems.The tissue distribution in muscle indicates that the polynucleotides andpolypeptides corresponding to this gene would be useful for thedetection, treatment, and/or prevention of various muscle disorders,such as muscular dystrophy, cardiomyopathy, fibroids, myomas, andrhabdomyosarcomas. The tissue distribution in cancers of the prostate,synovium, breast, colon suggests that the polynucleotides andpolypeptides corresponding to this gene is useful for the diagnosis andtreatment of cancer and other proliferative disorders. Expression withincellular sources marked by proliferating cells suggests that thisprotein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division.

[0130] Additionally, the expression in hematopoietic cells and tissuessuggests that this protein may play a role in the proliferation,differentiation, and/or survival of hematopoietic cell lineages. In suchan event, this gene may be useful in the treatment oflymphoproliferative disorders, and in the maintenance anddifferentiation of various hematopoietic lineages from earlyhematopoietic stem and committed progenitor cells. Similarly, embryonicdevelopment also involves decisions involving cell differentiationand/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Thus this protein may also beinvolved in apoptosis or tissue differentiation and could again beuseful in cancer therapy. The tissue distribution in cerebellum andhomology to MEGF4 and SLIT indicates that polynucleotides andpolypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for the detection,treatment, and/or prevention of neurodegenerative disease states,behavioral disorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative usesare described in the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders”sections below, in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein.Briefly, the uses include, but are not limited to the detection,treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson'sDisease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis,encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheral neuropathies,neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cord injuries,ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania,dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, panicdisorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism, and alteredbehaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns, balance, andperception. In addition, elevated expression of this gene product inregions of the brain indicates it plays a role in normal neuralfunction. Potentially, this gene product is involved in synapseformation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis, orneuronal differentiation or survival. Furthermore, the protein may alsobe used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissuemarkers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agentsthat modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as anutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed againstthe protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapytargets for the above listed tissues.

[0131] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:21 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1858 of SEQID NO:21, b is an integer of 15 to 1872, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:21, and whereb is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0132] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 12

[0133] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) (See, e.g., Genbank accessionnumbers AAD34137 (AF151900.1), CAB40626 (AJ237996.1), and BAA03903(D16431.1); all references available through this accession are herebyincorporated by reference herein.) which is thought to be important intumorogenesis, cell signaling, and cancer. Cell growth is regulated byvarious growth factors and cytokines, which bind to specific membranereceptors to trigger a cascade of intracellular biochemical signals tothe activation of transcription factors, resulting in the activation andrepression of various subsets of genes (Aaronson, S. A., Science,254:1146-1153 (1991)). Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF), has beenrecently cloned (Nakamura, H. et al., J. Biol. Chem.,269(40):25143-25149 (1994)). HDGF is a heparin-binding protein which ismitogenic for fibroblasts. HDGF was purified from the conditioned mediumof a human hepatoma-derived cell line, HuH-7 by tritiated thymidineincorporation into Swiss 3T3 cells. HDGF has no signal peptide, yet issecreted into the medium of COS-7 cells after transfection of the cDNAclone. HDGF is ubiquitously expressed in several tumor-derived celllines and tissues. It is localized in the cytoplasm of hepatoma cellsand has strong growth stimulating activity.

[0134] Due to the fact that the translation product of this gene shareshomology to HDGF it is likely that this gene shares, at least, somebiological function with HDGF. In specific embodiments, polypeptides ofthe invention comprise, or alternatively consists of, an amino acidsequence selected from the group:MEKAKERMKKQAQNGKSHILQRNPLNSPGNLQEMKMTKTAKKRKTKAALRVEMRATTQETQLQTCRKPVKGPNYHNECCILRETTRRLYVWLSNILGFDMNQHIVLVVIDRTPVCMYIIHIPLCCVSGGKDILAFFKSY (SEQ ID NO: 59) andMARPRPREYKAGDLVFAKMKGYPHWPARIDELPEGAVKPPANKYPIFFFGTHETAFLGPKDLFPYKEYKDKFGKSNKRKGFNEGLWEIENNPGVKFTGYQAIQQQSSSETEGEGGNTADASSEEEGDRVEEDGKGKKKKKNLVPN (SEQ ID NO: 60). Moreover,fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, for example,fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%,96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides and polypeptidesencoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringentconditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides, or thecomplement there of are encompassed by the invention. Antibodies thatbind polypeptides of the invention are also encompassed by theinvention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are alsoencompassed by the invention.

[0135] This gene is expressed primarily in is brain, heart, thymus,fetal liver and to a lesser extent in spleen, bone marrow, lymph node,pancreas, kidney, and many other tissues.

[0136] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: disorders of thecentral nervous system (CNS), immune system, cardiovascular system, anddeveloping fetus. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed tothese polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes fordifferential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For anumber of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of thebrain, heart, thymus, and fetal liver, expression of this gene atsignificantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected incertain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cardiovascular, CNS,cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma,urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or sampletaken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to thestandard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthytissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0137] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 41 as residues: Met-I to Lys-10, Pro-64 to Phe-81, Ile-88to Gly-93, Gln-103 to Asn-116, Ala-118 to Thr-203. Polynucleotidesencoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0138] The tissue distribution and homology to hepatoma-derived growthfactors (HDGF) indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptidescorresponding to this gene are useful for diagnosis and/or treatment ofcancer. For example, the proteins can be administered therapeutically toinhibit or reverse the development of tumors. The tissue distribution inbrain also indicates that the polynucleotides and polypeptidescorresponding to this gene would be useful for the detection, treatment,and/or prevention of neurodegenerative disease states, behavioraldisorders, or inflammatory conditions. Representative uses are describedin the “Regeneration” and “Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below,in Example 11, 15, and 18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the usesinclude, but are not limited to the detection, treatment, and/orprevention of Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington'sDisease, Tourette Syndrome, meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinatingdiseases, peripheral neuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenitalmalformations, spinal cord injuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms,hemorrhages, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessivecompulsive disorder, depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities,ALS, psychoses, autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders infeeding, sleep patterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevatedexpression of this gene product in regions of the brain indicates itplays a role in normal neural function. Potentially, this gene productis involved in synapse formation, neurotransmission, learning,cognition, homeostasis, or neuronal differentiation or survival.Additionally, the tissue distribution in bone marrow, thymus, spleen,and lymph nodes indicate the polynucleotides and polypeptidescorresponding to this gene is useful for the diagnosis and treatment ofa variety of immune system disorders. Representative uses are describedin the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sections below, inExample 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein.Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role inregulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/oractivation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells.This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production,antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in thetreatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the geneis expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product isinvolved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agentfor immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma,immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis,granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne,neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cellmediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs andtissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, orautoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissueinjury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug inducedhemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, andscleroderma. Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor thatinfluences the differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or thatrecruits hematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene productis thought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committedprogenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/orproliferation of various cell types. The tissue distribution in pancreasalso indicates the polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding tothis gene would be useful for the detection, treatment, and/orprevention of various endocrine disorders and cancers. Representativeuses are described in the “Biological Activity”, “HyperproliferativeDisorders”, and “Binding Activity” sections below, in Example 11, 17,18, 19, 20 and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the protein can beused for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Addison'sdisease, Cushing's Syndrome, and disorders and/or cancers of thepancreas (e.g. diabetes mellitus), adrenal cortex, ovaries, pituitary(e.g., hyper-, hypopituitarism), thyroid (e.g. hyper-, hypothyroidism),parathyroid (e.g. hyper-, hypoparathyroidism), hypothallamus, andtestes. The tissue distribution in heart tissue indicates thepolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene would beuseful in the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of a variety ofvascular disorders and conditions, which include, but are not limited tomiscrovascular disease, vascular leak syndrome, aneurysm, stroke,embolism, thrombosis, coronary artery disease, arteriosclerosis, and/oratherosclerosis. Moreover, the expression within fetal tissue and othercellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this proteinmay play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may showutility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmentaldiseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferativeconditions. Representative uses are described in the “HyperproliferativeDisorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein.Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving celldifferentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation ofapoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, asoccurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control theextent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquiredimmunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinalmuscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation anddifferentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adultfor tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act asa morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore,the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are usefulin treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions,in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this proteinmay modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and would be useful inthe detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative orproliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful inmodulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist inproliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also beused to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth andproliferation. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determinebiological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolatecognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate theirinteractions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement.Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may showutility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the abovelisted tissues.

[0139] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:22 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1884 of SEQID NO:22, b is an integer of 15 to 1898, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:22, and whereb is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0140] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 13

[0141] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) (See, e.g., Genbank accessionnumbers AAD34137 (AF151900.1), CAB40626 (AJ237996.1), and BAA03903(D16431.1); all references available through this accession are herebyincorporated by reference herein.) which is thought to be important intumorogenesis, cell signaling, and cancer. Cell growth is regulated byvarious growth factors and cytokines, which bind to specific membranereceptors to trigger a cascade of intracellular biochemical signals tothe activation of transcription factors, resulting in the activation andrepression of various subsets of genes (Aaronson, S. A., Science,254:1146-1153 (1991)). Growth factors are key regulatory polypeptides infetal development, wound healing, organ regeneration and are thought toplay a major stimulatory role in tumorogenesis. Hepatoma-derived growthfactor(HDGF), has been recently cloned (Nakamura, H. et al., J. Biol.Chem., 269(40):25143-25149 (1994)). HDGF is a heparin-binding proteinwhich is mitogenic for fibroblasts. HDGF was purified from theconditioned medium of a human hepatoma-derived cell line, HuH-7 bytritiated thymidine incorporation into Swiss 3T3 cells. HDGF has nosignal peptide, yet is secreted into the medium of COS-7 cells aftertransfection of the cDNA clone. HDGF is ubiquitously expressed inseveral tumor-derived cell lines and tissues. It is localized in thecytoplasm of hepatoma cells and has strong growth stimulating activity.Due to the fact that the translation product of this gene shareshomology to HDGF it is likely that this gene shares, at least, somebiological function with HDGF.

[0142] This gene is expressed primarily in fetal tissue, brain, B-cells,colon (adenocarcinoma), pancreatic islet cells, and spinal cord.

[0143] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: cancer, disorders ofthe central nervous system (CNS), and disorders of the immune system anddeveloping fetus. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed tothese polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes fordifferential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For anumber of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of theCNS, B-cells, developing fetus, expression of this gene at significantlyhigher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues orcell types (e.g., CNS, immune cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodilyfluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) oranother tissue or sample taken from an individual having such adisorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., theexpression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individualnot having the disorder.

[0144] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 42 as residues: Met-i to Ser-16, Ala-23 to Ala-37, Glu-40to Val-47, Pro-50 to Asn-66, Asn-75 to Ser-83, Ser-91 to Asp-109,Pro-118 to Asn-135, Phe-220 to Leu-231. Polynucleotides encoding saidpolypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0145] The tissue distribution and homology to hepatoma-derived growthfactors indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding tothis gene are useful for diagnosis and/or treatment of cancer. Forexample, the proteins can be administered therapeutically to inhibit orreverse the development of tumors. The expression within fetal tissueand other cellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates thisprotein may play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and mayshow utility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention ofdevelopmental diseases and disorders, including cancer, and otherproliferative conditions. Representative uses are described in the“Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration” sections below andelsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisionsinvolving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation.Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression ofcell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers, or in failureto control the extent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquiredimmunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinalmuscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation anddifferentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adultfor tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act asa morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore,the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are usefulin treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions,in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this proteinmay modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and would be useful inthe detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative orproliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful inmodulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist inproliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also beused to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth andproliferation.

[0146] The tissue distribution in brain and spinal cord indicates thatthe polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene would beuseful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention ofneurodegenerative disease states, behavioral disorders, or inflammatoryconditions. Representative uses are described in the “Regeneration” and“Hyperproliferative Disorders” sections below, in Example 11, 15, and18, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the uses include, but are not limitedto the detection, treatment, and/or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease,Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Tourette Syndrome,meningitis, encephalitis, demyelinating diseases, peripheralneuropathies, neoplasia, trauma, congenital malformations, spinal cordinjuries, ischemia and infarction, aneurysms, hemorrhages,schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder,depression, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses,autism, and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleeppatterns, balance, and perception. In addition, elevated expression ofthis gene product in regions of the brain indicates it plays a role innormal neural function. Potentially, this gene product is involved insynapse formation, neurotransmission, learning, cognition, homeostasis,or neuronal differentiation or survival.

[0147] The tissue distribution in B-cells indicates that thepolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene would beuseful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune systemdisorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity”and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18,19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of thisgene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival;differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages,including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in theregulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or otherprocesses suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. byboosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells oflymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immunefunctions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunologicaldisorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such asAIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease,inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia,psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity;immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such ashost-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunitydisorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury,demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolyticanemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influencesthe differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruitshematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product isthought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committedprogenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/orproliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may alsobe used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissuemarkers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agentsthat modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as anutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed againstthe protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapytargets for the above listed tissues.

[0148] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:23 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1851 of SEQID NO:23, b is an integer of 15 to 1865, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:23, and whereb is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0149] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 14

[0150] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) (See, e.g., Genbank accessionnumbers BAA22896.1 (D63850.1), AAD34137 (AF151900.1), CAB40626(AJ237996.1), and BAA03903 (D16431.1); all references available throughthis accession are hereby incorporated by reference herein.) which isthought to be important in tumorgeneis, cell signaling, and cancer.

[0151] Cell growth is regulated by various growth factors and cytokines,which bind to specific membrane receptors to trigger a cascade ofintracellular biochemical signals to the activation of transcriptionfactors, resulting in the activation and repression of various subsetsof genes (Aaronson, S. A., Science, 254:1146-1153 (1991)). Growthfactors are key regulatory polypeptides in fetal development, woundhealing, organ regeneration and are thought to play a major stimulatoryrole in tumorogenesis. Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF), has beenrecently cloned (Nakamura, H. et al., J. Biol. Chem.,269(40):25143-25149 (1994)). HDGF is a heparin-binding protein which ismitogenic for fibroblasts. HDGF was purified from the conditioned mediumof a human hepatoma-derived cell line, HuH-7 by tritiated thymidineincorporation into Swiss 3T3 cells. HDGF has no signal peptide, yet issecreted into the medium of COS-7 cells after transfection of the cDNAclone. HDGF is ubiquitously expressed in several tumor-derived celllines and tissues. It is localized in the cytoplasm of hepatoma cellsand has strong growth stimulating activity. Due to the fact that thetranslation product of this gene shares homology to HDGF it is likelythis gene shares, at least, some biological function with HDGF. Inspecific embodiments, polypeptides of the invention comprise, oralternatively consists of, the following amino acid sequence:MAVTAVTATAASDRMESDSDSDKSSDNSGLKRKTPALKMSVSKRARKASSDLDQASVSPSEEENSESSSESEKTSDQDFTPEKKAAVRAPRRGPLGGRKKKKAPSASDSDSKADSDGAKPEPVAMARSASSSSSSSSSSDSDVSVKKPPRGRKPAEKPLPKPRGRKPKPERPPSSSSSDSDSDEVDRISEWKRRDEARRRELEARRRREQEEELRRLREQEKEEKERRRERADRGEAERGSGGSSGDELREDDEPVKKRGRKGRGRGPPSSSDSEPEAELEREAKKSAKKPQSSSTEPARKPGQKEKRVRPEEKQQAKPVKVERTRKRSEGFSMDRKVEKKKEPSVEEKLQKLHSEIKFALKVDSPDVKRCLNALEELGTLQVTSQILQKNTDVVATLKKIRRYKANKDVMEKAAEVYTRLKSRVLGPKIEAVQKVNKAGMEKEKAEEKLAGEELAGEEAPQEKAEDKPSTDLSAPVNGEATSQKGESAEDKEHEEGRDSEEGPRCGSSEDLHDSVREGPDLDRPGSDRQERERARGDSEALDEES (SEQ ID NO:). Moreover, fragments and variantsof these polypeptides (such as, for example, fragments as describedherein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99%identical to these polypeptides and polypeptides encoded by thepolynucleotide which hybridizes, under stringent conditions, to thepolynucleotide encoding these polypeptides, or the complement there ofare encompassed by the invention. Antibodies that bind polypeptides ofthe invention are also encompassed by the invention. Polynucleotidesencoding these polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0152] This gene is expressed primarily in cancerous tissues (e.g.,colon, pancreas, ovaries), fetal tissue, and immune cells (e.g.,T-cells) and to a lesser extent in other tissues.

[0153] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: disorders of the immunesystem, disorders of the developing fetus, and cancer, particularly ofthe pancreas, colon, and ovaries. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodiesdirected to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunologicalprobes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s).For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly ofthe immune, digestive, and reproductive system, expression of this geneat significantly higher or lower levels may be routinely detected incertain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and woundedtissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluidand spinal fluid) or another tissue or sample taken from an individualhaving such a disorder, relative to the standard gene expression level,i.e., the expression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from anindividual not having the disorder.

[0154] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 43 as residues: Asp-62 to Phe-77, Ile-84 to Tyr-92, Pro-97to Gly-124, Asp-138 to Pro-160, Lys-168 to Asp-178, Pro-184 to Lys-209,Pro-215 to Pro-245, Ala-254 to Ser-266, Lys-272 to Val-310.Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by theinvention.

[0155] The tissue distribution and homology to hepatoma-derived growthfactors indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding tothis gene are useful for diagnosis and/or treatment of cancer,particularly of the colon, pancreas, and ovaries. For example, theproteins can be administered therapeutically to inhibit or reverse thedevelopment of tumors. The expression within fetal tissue and othercellular sources marked by proliferating cells indicates this proteinmay play a role in the regulation of cellular division, and may showutility in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmentaldiseases and disorders, including cancer, and other proliferativeconditions. Representative uses are described in the “HyperproliferativeDisorders” and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein.Briefly, developmental tissues rely on decisions involving celldifferentiation and/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation ofapoptosis can result in inappropriate suppression of cell death, asoccurs in the development of some cancers, or in failure to control theextent of cell death, as is believed to occur in acquiredimmunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as spinalmuscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potential roles in proliferation anddifferentiation, this gene product may have applications in the adultfor tissue regeneration and the treatment of cancers. It may also act asa morphogen to control cell and tissue type specification. Therefore,the polynucleotides and polypeptides of the present invention are usefulin treating, detecting, and/or preventing said disorders and conditions,in addition to other types of degenerative conditions. Thus this proteinmay modulate apoptosis or tissue differentiation and would be useful inthe detection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative orproliferative conditions and diseases. The protein is useful inmodulating the immune response to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist inproliferating and cancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also beused to gain new insight into the regulation of cellular growth andproliferation.

[0156] The tissue distribution in immune cells indicates that thepolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene would beuseful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune systemdisorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity”and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18,19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of thisgene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival;differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages,including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in theregulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or otherprocesses suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. byboosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells oflymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immunefunctions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunologicaldisorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such asAIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease,inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia,psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity;immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such ashost-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunitydisorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury,demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolyticanemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influencesthe differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruitshematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product isthought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committedprogenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/orproliferation of various cell types. The tissue distribution in pancreasindicates the polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to thisgene would be useful for the detection, treatment, and/or prevention ofvarious endocrine disorders and cancers. Representative uses aredescribed in the “Biological Activity”, “Hyperproliferative Disorders”,and “Binding Activity” sections below, in Example 11, 17, 18, 19, 20 and27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the protein can be used for thedetection, treatment, and/or prevention of Addison's disease, Cushing'sSyndrome, and disorders and/or cancers of the pancreas (e.g. diabetesmellitus), adrenal cortex, ovaries, pituitary (e.g., hyper-,hypopituitarism), thyroid (e.g. hyper-, hypothyroidism), parathyroid(e.g. hyper-, hypoparathyroidism), hypothallamus, and testes.Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determine biologicalactivity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognateligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate theirinteractions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement.Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may showutility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the abovelisted tissues.

[0157] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:24 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1283 of SEQID NO:24, b is an integer of 15 to 1297, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:24, and whereb is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0158] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 15

[0159] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith a precursor of interleukin-16 (IL-16) (See, e.g., Genbank accessionnumber AAC16038.1 (AF017110); all references available through thisaccession are hereby incorporated by reference herein.). which is apro-inflammatory cytokine. IL-16 is synthesized as a precursor moleculethat is processed by cleavage of a C-terminal 14 kDa peptide, whichaggregates into bioactive tetramers. IL-16 requires the expression ofCD4 for its functions, which include induction of chemotaxis,interleukin-2 receptor and HLA-DR expression, reversible inhibition ofTcR/CD3-dependent activation and induction of a repressor of HIV-1transcription. It represents a major source of the lymphocytechemotactic activity early after antigen challenge of atopic asthmaticsin which the major cell of origin is the epithelium, although mastcells, CD8 cells, CD4 cells and eosinophils are also sources; and thepresence of IL-16 directly correlates with the number of infiltratingCD4+ T cells (Center et al., Int J Biochem Cell Biol; 29(11):1231-1234(1997); this reference is hereby incorporated by reference herein.).

[0160] This gene is expressed primarily in T-cells.

[0161] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: rheumatoid arthritis,HIV, asthma, and disorders of the immune system. Similarly, polypeptidesand antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful in providingimmunological probes for differential identification of the tissue(s) orcell type(s). For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells,particularly of the T-cells, expression of this gene at significantlyhigher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues orcell types (e.g., immune, cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodilyfluids (e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) oranother tissue or sample taken from an individual having such adisorder, relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., theexpression level in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individualnot having the disorder.

[0162] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 44 as residues: Lys-42 to Gly-60. Polynucleotides encodingsaid polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0163] The tissue distribution and homology to IL-16 indicates thatpolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are usefulfor treatment of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic inflammation, andHIV-1 infection. The tissue distribution in T-cells and homology toIL-16 also indicates that the polynucleotides and polypeptidescorresponding to this gene would be useful for the diagnosis andtreatment of a variety of immune system disorders. Representative usesare described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease” sectionsbelow, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, and 27, and elsewhereherein. Briefly, the expression of this gene product indicates a role inregulating the proliferation; survival; differentiation; and/oractivation of hematopoietic cell lineages, including blood stem cells.This gene product is involved in the regulation of cytokine production,antigen presentation, or other processes suggesting a usefulness in thetreatment of cancer (e.g. by boosting immune responses). Since the geneis expressed in cells of lymphoid origin, the natural gene product isinvolved in immune functions. Therefore it is also useful as an agentfor immunological disorders including arthritis, asthma,immunodeficiency diseases such as AIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis,granulomatous disease, inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne,neutropenia, neutrophilia, psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cellmediated cytotoxicity; immune reactions to transplanted organs andtissues, such as host-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, orautoimmunity disorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissueinjury, demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug inducedhemolytic anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, andscleroderma. Other potential therapeutic applications are use ofinhibitors of IL-16 in asthma and for IL-16 in selective CD4+ T cellimmune reconstitution in HIV-1 infection or following chemotherapy.Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influencesthe differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruitshematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product isthought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committedprogenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/orproliferation of various cell types. Furthermore, the protein may alsobe used to determine biological activity, raise antibodies, as tissuemarkers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identify agentsthat modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as anutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed againstthe protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapytargets for the above listed tissues.

[0164] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:25 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 563 of SEQID NO:25, b is an integer of 15 to 577, where both a and b correspond tothe positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:25, and where bis greater than or equal to a +14.

[0165] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 16

[0166] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith steroid/thyroid/retinoic nuclear hormone receptors (See, e.g.,Genbank accession number AAB88373.1 (AF036702); all references availablethrough this accession are hereby incorporated by reference herein.).Steroid hormone receptors constitute a family of inducible transcriptionfactors that mediate the multi-fold effects of steroids on development,reproduction, proliferation, and cellular homeostasis. Activationthrough the binding of the cognate hormone enables the receptors to bindwith high affinity to specific response elements in the promoters oftarget genes, resulting in stimulation or repression of transcription.While protein-protein interactions were early postulated to play animportant role in the mechanism through which steroid hormone receptorsexert their effects on transcription initiation, recent research hasrevealed a number of potential targets within the basal transcriptionmachinery. Moreover, aided by the development of protein-proteininteraction screening techniques, a rapidly increasing number of factorshas been identified which associate with hormonally activated receptorsand may be involved in the transactivation process.

[0167] The gene encoding the disclosed cDNA is believed to reside onchromosome 5. Accordingly, polynucleotides related to this invention areuseful as a marker in linkage analysis for chromosome 5.

[0168] This gene is expressed primarily in messangial cell fraction 1,tumors of the pancreas and liver, immune cells (e.g., T-cell andB-cells), and tongue, colon, breast, lung, and synovial carcinoma.Additionally, this gene is expressed in many other tissues.

[0169] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: cancer (e.g., of thelungs, ovaries, breast, pancreas, parathyroid, colon, synovium), fetaldevelopment and immune disorders. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodiesdirected to these polypeptides are useful in providing immunologicalprobes for differential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s).For a number of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly ofthe immune cells, fetus, respiratory system and reproductive systemexpression of this gene at significantly higher or lower levels may beroutinely detected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., immune,cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma,urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or sampletaken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to thestandard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthytissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0170] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 45 as residues: Val-44 to Val-51, Gly-74 to Glu-79.Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by theinvention.

[0171] The tissue distribution and homology to steroid/thyroid/retinoicnuclear hormone receptors indicates that polynucleotides andpolypeptides corresponding to this gene are useful for mediating themulti-fold effects of steroids on development, reproduction,proliferation, and cellular homeostasis.

[0172] The tissue distribution in immune cells also indicates that thepolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene would beuseful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune systemdisorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity”and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18,19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of thisgene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival;differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages,including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in theregulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or otherprocesses suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. byboosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells oflymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immunefunctions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunologicaldisorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such asAIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease,inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia,psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity;immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such ashost-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunitydisorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury,demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolyticanemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influencesthe differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruitshematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product isthought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committedprogenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/orproliferation of various cell types. Additionally, the expression withinfetal tissue, tumors, and other cellular sources marked by proliferatingcells indicates this protein may play a role in the regulation ofcellular division, and may show utility in the diagnosis, treatment,and/or prevention of developmental diseases and disorders, includingcancer, and other proliferative conditions. Representative uses aredescribed in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders” and “Regeneration”sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly, developmental tissues relyon decisions involving cell differentiation and/or apoptosis in patternformation. Dysregulation of apoptosis can result in inappropriatesuppression of cell death, as occurs in the development of some cancers,or in failure to control the extent of cell death, as is believed tooccur in acquired immunodeficiency and certain neurodegenerativedisorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Because of potentialroles in proliferation and differentiation, this gene product may haveapplications in the adult for tissue regeneration and the treatment ofcancers. It may also act as a morphogen to control cell and tissue typespecification. Therefore, the polynucleotides and polypeptides of thepresent invention are useful in treating, detecting, and/or preventingsaid disorders and conditions, in addition to other types ofdegenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulate apoptosis ortissue differentiation and would be useful in the detection, treatment,and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferative conditions anddiseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immune response toaberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating and cancerous cellsand tissues. The protein can also be used to gain new insight into theregulation of cellular growth and proliferation. Furthermore, theprotein may also be used to determine biological activity, to raiseantibodies, as tissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors,to identify agents that modulate their interactions, in addition to itsuse as a nutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodiesdirected against the protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/orimmunotherapy targets for the above listed tissues.

[0173] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:26 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 661 of SEQID NO:26, b is an integer of 15 to 675, where both a and b correspond tothe positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:26, and where bis greater than or equal to a +14.

[0174] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 17

[0175] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith ACRP30, a adipocyte complement-related protein (See, e.g., Genbankaccession number AAA80543.1 and AAB06706.1; all references availablethrough these accessions are herein incorporated by reference in theirentirety.). ACRP30 (AdipoQ) is an abundant serum protein secretedexclusively from fat cells, which is implicated in energy homeotasis andobesity. ACRP30 is a close homologue of the complement protein C1 q,which is involved in the recognition of microbial surfaces andantibody-antigen complexes in the classical pathway of complement. Thestructure reveals a homology to the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family.Identical folding topologies, key residue conservations, and similarityof trimer interfaces and intron positions firmly establish anevolutionary link between the TNF and C1 q families. It has beensuggested that TNFs, which control many aspects of inflammation,adaptive immunity, apoptosis and energy homeostasis arose by divergencefrom a primordial recognition molecule of the innate immune system. Theevolutionary connection between C1 q-like proteins and TNFs illuminatesthe shared functions of these two important groups of proteins (Shapiroand Scherer, Curr Biol 8:335-338 (1998). The adipoQ cDNA encodes apolypeptide of 247 amino acids with a secretory signal sequence at theamino terminus, a stalk region (Gly-X-Y repeats), and a globular domain.The globular domain of adipoQ is situated at the COOH-terminus sharessignificant homology with subunits of complement factor C1 q, collagen1(X), and the brain-specific factor cerebellin. The expression of adipoQis highly specific to adipose tissue in both mouse and rat. Expressionof adipoQ is observed exclusively in mature fat cells as thestromal-vascular fraction of fat tissue does not contain adipoQ mRNA. Incultured 3T3-F442A and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, hormone-induceddifferentiation dramatically increases the level of expression foradipoQ. Furthermore, the expression of adipoQ mRNA is significantlyreduced in the adipose tissues from obese mice and humans. Thetissue-specific expression of a putative secreted protein suggests thatthis factor may function as a novel signaling molecule for adiposetissue (Liang and Spiegelman, J. Biol. Chem. 271:10697-10703 (1996)).Accordingly, particularly prefered polypeptide domains include a stalkdomain from amino acids about Arg-26 to about Arg-140 of (SEQ ID NO),and a globular domain from about amino acids Cys-141 to Pro-281 (SEQ IDNO).

[0176] This gene is expressed primarily in fetal heart, bone marrowstroma, fibroblasts and mesenchymal cells.

[0177] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: metabolic and fetaldevelopment disorders, obsesity, arthritis, inflammation, and immunesystem dysfunction. Similarly, polypeptides and antibodies directed tothese polypeptides are useful in providing immunological probes fordifferential identification of the tissue(s) or cell type(s). For anumber of disorders of the above tissues or cells, particularly of theimmune and metabolic system, expression of this gene at significantlyhigher or lower levels may be routinely detected in certain tissues orcell types (e.g., immune cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids(e.g., serum, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or anothertissue or sample taken from an individual having such a disorder,relative to the standard gene expression level, i.e., the expressionlevel in healthy tissue or bodily fluid from an individual not havingthe disorder.

[0178] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 46 as residues: Gln-31 to Gly-67, Cys-77 to Ser-82, Gly-99to Gly-117, Ala-121 to Gly-132, Pro-137 to Ser-143, Gly-151 to Tyr-162.Polynucleotides encoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by theinvention.

[0179] The tissue distribution and homology to ACRP(AdipoQ) indicatesthat polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene areuseful for the treatment of obesity and other metabolic and endocrineconditions or disorders.

[0180] The tissue distribution in immune cells indicates that thepolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene would beuseful for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of immune systemdisorders. Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity”and “Infectious Disease” sections below, in Example 11, 13, 14, 16, 18,19, 20, and 27, and elsewhere herein. Briefly, the expression of thisgene product indicates a role in regulating the proliferation; survival;differentiation; and/or activation of hematopoietic cell lineages,including blood stem cells. This gene product is involved in theregulation of cytokine production, antigen presentation, or otherprocesses suggesting a usefulness in the treatment of cancer (e.g. byboosting immune responses). Since the gene is expressed in cells oflymphoid origin, the natural gene product is involved in immunefunctions. Therefore it is also useful as an agent for immunologicaldisorders including arthritis, asthma, immunodeficiency diseases such asAIDS, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatous disease,inflammatory bowel disease, sepsis, acne, neutropenia, neutrophilia,psoriasis, hypersensitivities, such as T-cell mediated cytotoxicity;immune reactions to transplanted organs and tissues, such ashost-versus-graft and graft-versus-host diseases, or autoimmunitydisorders, such as autoimmune infertility, lense tissue injury,demyelination, systemic lupus erythematosis, drug induced hemolyticanemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's disease, and scleroderma.Moreover, the protein may represent a secreted factor that influencesthe differentiation or behavior of other blood cells, or that recruitshematopoietic cells to sites of injury. Thus, this gene product isthought to be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committedprogenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/orproliferation of various cell types.

[0181] The expression within fetal tissue and other cellular sourcesmarked by proliferating cells indicates this protein may play a role inthe regulation of cellular division, and may show utility in thediagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of developmental diseases anddisorders, including cancer, and other proliferative conditions.Representative uses are described in the “Hyperproliferative Disorders”and “Regeneration” sections below and elsewhere herein. Briefly,developmental tissues rely on decisions involving cell differentiationand/or apoptosis in pattern formation. Dysregulation of apoptosis canresult in inappropriate suppression of cell death, as occurs in thedevelopment of some cancers, or in failure to control the extent of celldeath, as is believed to occur in acquired immunodeficiency and certainneurodegenerative disorders, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).Because of potential roles in proliferation and differentiation, thisgene product may have applications in the adult for tissue regenerationand the treatment of cancers. It may also act as a morphogen to controlcell and tissue type specification. Therefore, the polynucleotides andpolypeptides of the present invention are useful in treating, detecting,and/or preventing said disorders and conditions, in addition to othertypes of degenerative conditions. Thus this protein may modulateapoptosis or tissue differentiation and would be useful in thedetection, treatment, and/or prevention of degenerative or proliferativeconditions and diseases. The protein is useful in modulating the immuneresponse to aberrant polypeptides, as may exist in proliferating andcancerous cells and tissues. The protein can also be used to gain newinsight into the regulation of cellular growth and proliferation.Nucleic acids and/or polypeptides of the invention and/or agonistsand/or antagonists thereof are useful in the diagnosis and treatment orprevention of a wide range of diseases and/or conditions. Such diseasesand conditions include, but are not limited to, cancer (e.g., immunecell related cancers, breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer,follicular lymphoma, cancer associated with mutation or alteration ofp53, brain tumor, bladder cancer, uterocervical cancer, colon cancer,colorectal cancer, non-small cell carcinoma of the lung, small cellcarcinoma of the lung, stomach cancer, etc.), lymphoproliferativedisorders (e.g., lymphadenopathy), microbial (e.g., viral, bacterial,etc.) infection (e.g., HIV-1 infection, HIV-2 infection, herpesvirusinfection (including, but not limited to, HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV, VZV, HHV-6,HHV-7, EBV), adenovirus infection, poxvirus infection, human papillomavirus infection, hepatitis infection (e.g., HAV, HBV, HCV, etc.),Helicobacter pylori infection, invasive Staphylococcia, etc.), parasiticinfection, nephritis, bone disease (e.g., osteoporosis),atherosclerosis, pain, cardiovascular disorders (e.g.,neovascularization, hypovascularization or reduced circulation (e.g.,ischemic disease (e.g., myocardial infarction, stroke, etc.))), AIDS,allergy, inflammation, neurodegenerative disease (e.g., Alzheimer'sdisease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, pigmentaryretinitis, cerebellar degeneration, etc.), graft rejection (acute andchronic), graft vs. host disease, diseases due to osteomyelodysplasia(e.g., aplastic anemia, etc.), joint tissue destruction in rheumatism,liver disease (e.g., acute and chronic hepatitis, liver injury, andcirrhosis), autoimmune disease (e.g., multiple sclerosis, rheumatoidarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, immune complexglomerulonephritis, autoimmune diabetes, autoimmune thrombocytopenicpurpura, Grave's disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, etc.), cardiomyopathy(e.g., dilated cardiomyopathy), diabetes, diabetic complications (e.g.,diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy),influenza, asthma, psoriasis, glomerulonephritis, septic shock, andulcerative colitis. Nucleic acids and/or polypeptides of the inventionand/or agonists and/or antagonists thereof are useful in promotingangiogenesis, regulating hematopoiesis and wound healing (e.g., wounds,bums, and bone fractures). Nucleic acids and/or polypeptides of theinvention and/or agonists and/or antagonists thereof are also useful asan adjuvant to enhance immune responsiveness to specific antigen,anti-viral immune responses. More generally, nucleic acids and/orpolypeptides of the invention and/or agonists and/or antagonists thereofare useful in regulating (i.e., elevating or reducing) immune response.For example, nucleic acids and/or polypeptides of the invention may beuseful in preparation or recovery from surgery, trauma, radiationtherapy, chemotherapy, and transplantation, or may be used to boostimmune response and/or recovery in the elderly and immunocompromisedindividuals. Alternatively, nucleic acids and/or polypeptides of theinvention and/or agonists and/or antagonists thereof are useful asimmunosuppressive agents, for example in the treatment or prevention ofautoimmune disorders. In specific embodiments, nucleic acids and/orpolypeptides of the invention are used to treat or prevent chronicinflammatory, allergic or autoimmune conditions, such as those describedherein or are otherwise known in the art. Furthermore, the protein mayalso be used to determine biological activity, to raise antibodies, astissue markers, to isolate cognate ligands or receptors, to identifyagents that modulate their interactions, in addition to its use as anutritional supplement. Protein, as well as, antibodies directed againstthe protein may show utility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapytargets for the above listed tissues.

[0182] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:27 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 1544 of SEQID NO:27, b is an integer of 15 to 1558, where both a and b correspondto the positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:27, and whereb is greater than or equal to a +14.

[0183] Features of Protein Encoded by Gene No: 18

[0184] The translation product of this gene shares sequence homologywith ligand-binding protein (Genbank Accession number CAA43068.1(X60661); all references available through this accession are herebyincorporated by reference herein.) which is thought to be important incell-to-cell communication and signal transduction. The translationproduct of this gene also shares sequence homology with lymphocytomaproliferation activating peptide (LPAP) (See, e.g., Genseq Accessionnumber R55778; all references available through this accession arehereby incorporated by reference herein). LPAP is used as a medicamentfor the treatment of disturbances in the cell growth of normal and tumorcells; degenerative diseases of humans; epidermal injuries;cardiovascular, respiratory and urogenital diseases; the nerve systemand the immune system.

[0185] Preferred polypeptides comprise, or alternatively consist of, thefollowing amino acid sequence:MMQLNFIRTRLVGTGVATSRARRGTGEGSQGCHPVLLVIVVLVIGTGTVLTAQHLHQQLDQLRLVHWLQAIYAGLEFSHCCLGIFVDIVLAQGP LIELLWGPHQ (SEQ ID NO: 61).Moreover, fragments and variants of these polypeptides (such as, forexample, fragments as described herein, polypeptides at least 80%, 85%,90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% identical to these polypeptides andpolypeptides encoded by the polynucleotide which hybridizes, understringent conditions, to the polynucleotide encoding these polypeptides,or the complement there of are encompassed by the invention. Antibodiesthat bind polypeptides of the invention are also encompassed by theinvention. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are alsoencompassed by the invention.

[0186] This gene is expressed primarily in kidney and ovary cancer(Grade II papillary carcinoma).

[0187] Polynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention are useful asreagents for differential identification of the tissue(s) or celltype(s) present in a biological sample and for diagnosis of diseases andconditions which include but are not limited to: immune systemdisorders, ovarian and kidney cancer, and cancer in general. Similarly,polypeptides and antibodies directed to these polypeptides are useful inproviding immunological probes for differential identification of thetissue(s) or cell type(s). For a number of disorders of the abovetissues or cells, particularly of the ovaries and kidneys, expression ofthis gene at significantly higher or lower levels may be routinelydetected in certain tissues or cell types (e.g., ovaries, kidneys,cancerous and wounded tissues) or bodily fluids (e.g., serum, plasma,urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) or another tissue or sampletaken from an individual having such a disorder, relative to thestandard gene expression level, i.e., the expression level in healthytissue or bodily fluid from an individual not having the disorder.

[0188] Preferred polypeptides of the present invention comprise, oralternatively consist of, one or more of the immunogenic epitopes shownin SEQ ID NO: 47 as residues: Asp-93 to Lys-105. Polynucleotidesencoding said polypeptides are also encompassed by the invention.

[0189] The tissue distribution and homology to ligand-binding proteinindicates that polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to thisgene are useful for binding endotoxin, lipopolysaccharides,polychlorinated biphenyls, and other inflammatory agents, such as PLA.The homology to lymphocytoma proliferation activating peptide (LPAP) andtissue distribution indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptidescorresponding to this gene can be used as a medicament for the treatmentof disturbances in the cell growth of normal and tumour cells;degenerative diseases of humans; epidermal injuries; cardiovascular,respiratory and urogenital diseases; the nerve system and the immunesystem.

[0190] The tissue distribution in kidney indicates the polynucleotidesand polypeptides corresponding to this gene could be used in thetreatment and/or detection of kidney diseases including renal failure,nephritus, renal tubular acidosis, proteinuria, pyaria, edema,pyelonephritis, hydronephritis, nephrotic syndrome, crush syndrome,glomerulonephritis, hematuria, renal colic and kidney stones, inaddition to Wilm's Tumor Disease, and congenital kidney abnormalitiessuch as horseshoe kidney, polycystic kidney, and Falconi's syndrome.

[0191] The tissue distribution in ovarian tissue indicates thatpolynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to this gene are usefulfor the diagnosis and/or treatment of female reproductive disorders. Itmay also prove to be valuable in the diagnosis and treatment of ovariancancer, as well as cancers of other tissues where expression has beenobserved. Furthermore, the protein may also be used to determinebiological activity, to raise antibodies, as tissue markers, to isolatecognate ligands or receptors, to identify agents that modulate theirinteractions, in addition to its use as a nutritional supplement.Protein, as well as, antibodies directed against the protein may showutility as a tumor marker and/or immunotherapy targets for the abovelisted tissues.

[0192] Many polynucleotide sequences, such as EST sequences, arepublicly available and accessible through sequence databases. Some ofthese sequences are related to SEQ ID NO:28 and may have been publiclyavailable prior to conception of the present invention. Preferably, suchrelated polynucleotides are specifically excluded from the scope of thepresent invention. To list every related sequence would be cumbersome.Accordingly, preferably excluded from the present invention are one ormore polynucleotides comprising a nucleotide sequence described by thegeneral formula of a-b, where a is any integer between 1 to 549 of SEQID NO:28, b is an integer of 15 to 563, where both a and b correspond tothe positions of nucleotide residues shown in SEQ ID NO:28, and where bis greater than or equal to a +14. TABLE 1 5′ NT NT of AA First LastATCC SEQ 5′ NT 3′ NT 5′ NT First SEQ AA AA First Last Deposit ID Totalof of of AA of ID of of AA of AA Gene cDNA No: Z and NO: NT Clone CloneStart Signal NO: Sig Sig Secreted of No. Clone ID Date Vector X Seq.Seq. Seq. Codon Pep Y Pep Pep Portion ORF 1 HAPNJ39 PTA-536 Uni-ZAP 112247 1 2247 26 26 30 1 20 21 184 Aug. 13, 1999 XR 2 HDQFU27 PTA-536pCMVSport 12 2644 1 2644 41 41 31 1 23 24 352 Aug. 13, 1999 3.0 3HETJZ45 PTA-536 Uni-ZAP 13 1824 1 1824 111 111 32 1 20 21 448 Aug. 13,1999 XR 4 HTEMX36 PTA-536 Uni-ZAP 14 1060 1 1060 84 84 33 1 31 32 183Aug. 13, 1999 XR 5 HNTCH90 PTA-536 pCMVSport 15 1860 1 1860 130 130 34 11 2 121 Aug. 13, 1999 3.0 6 HWLBP46 PTA-536 pSport1 16 1350 1 1350 191191 35 1 86 87 251 Aug. 13, 1999 7 HA5BM53 PTA-536 pSport1 17 1191 11191 215 215 36 1 35 36 125 Aug. 13, 1999 8 HMCEH49 PTA-536 Uni-ZAP 18806 1 806 185 185 37 1 1 2 170 Aug. 13, 1999 XR 9 HKBAL25 PTA-536pSport1 19 2260 1 2260 59 59 38 1 18 19 535 Aug. 13, 1999 9 HKBAL25PTA-536 pSport1 29 2139 1 2139 48 48 48 1 18 19 595 Aug. 13, 1999 10HE8EF43 PTA-536 Uni-ZAP 20 1066 1 1066 152 152 39 1 1 2 274 Aug. 13,1999 XR 11 HE2RN91 PTA-536 Uni-ZAP 21 1872 1 1872 159 159 40 1 1 2 468Aug. 13, 1999 XR 12 HNTDX22 PTA-536 pCMVSport 22 1898 1 1898 150 150 411 1 2 203 Aug. 13, 1999 3.0 13 HHFCE59 PTA-536 Uni-ZAP 23 1865 1 1865 6262 42 1 1 2 253 Aug. 13, 1999 XR 14 HCGAD44 PTA-536 pSport1 24 1297 11297 43 43 43 1 1 2 314 Aug. 13, 1999 15 HTLIO20 PTA-536 Uni-ZAP 25 5771 577 157 157 44 1 1 2 86 Aug. 13, 1999 XR 16 HE9PM90 PTA-536 Uni-ZAP 26675 1 675 11 11 45 1 1 2 167 Aug. 13, 1999 XR 17 HSSJJ51 PTA-536 Uni-ZAP27 1558 1 1558 278 278 46 1 25 26 281 Aug. 13, 1999 XR 18 HBIMF63PTA-536 pCMVSport 28 563 1 563 1 1 47 1 23 24 105 Aug. 13, 1999 3.0

[0193] Table 1 summarizes the information corresponding to each “GeneNo.” described above. The nucleotide sequence identified as “NT SEQ IDNO:X” was assembled from partially homologous (“overlapping”) sequencesobtained from the “cDNA clone ID” identified in Table 1 and, in somecases, from additional related DNA clones. The overlapping sequenceswere assembled into a single contiguous sequence of high redundancy(usually three to five overlapping sequences at each nucleotideposition), resulting in a final sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:X.

[0194] The cDNA Clone ID was deposited on the date and given thecorresponding deposit number listed in “ATCC Deposit No:Z and Date.”Some of the deposits contain multiple different clones corresponding tothe same gene. “Vector” refers to the type of vector contained in thecDNA Clone ID.

[0195] “Total NT Seq.” refers to the total number of nucleotides in thecontig identified by “Gene No.” The deposited clone may contain all ormost of these sequences, reflected by the nucleotide position indicatedas “5′ NT of Clone Seq.” and the “3′ NT of Clone Seq.” of SEQ ID NO:X.The nucleotide position of SEQ ID NO:X of the putative start codon(methionine) is identified as “5′ NT of Start Codon.” Similarly, thenucleotide position of SEQ ID NO:X of the predicted signal sequence isidentified as “5′ NT of First AA of Signal Pep.”

[0196] The translated amino acid sequence, beginning with themethionine, is identified as “AA SEQ ID NO:Y,” although other readingframes can also be easily translated using known molecular biologytechniques. The polypeptides produced by these alternative open readingframes are specifically contemplated by the present invention.

[0197] The first and last amino acid position of SEQ ID NO:Y of thepredicted signal peptide is identified as “First AA of Sig Pep” and“Last AA of Sig Pep.” The predicted first amino acid position of SEQ IDNO:Y of the secreted portion is identified as “Predicted First AA ofSecreted Portion.” Finally, the amino acid position of SEQ ID NO:Y ofthe last amino acid in the open reading frame is identified as “Last AAof ORF.”

[0198] SEQ ID NO:X (where X may be any of the polynucleotide sequencesdisclosed in the sequence listing) and the translated SEQ ID NO:Y (whereY may be any of the polypeptide sequences disclosed in the sequencelisting) are sufficiently accurate and otherwise suitable for a varietyof uses well known in the art and described further below. For instance,SEQ ID NO:X is useful for designing nucleic acid hybridization probesthat will detect nucleic acid sequences contained in SEQ ID NO:X or thecDNA contained in the deposited clone. These probes will also hybridizeto nucleic acid molecules in biological samples, thereby enabling avariety of forensic and diagnostic methods of the invention. Similarly,polypeptides identified from SEQ ID NO:Y may be used, for example, togenerate antibodies which bind specifically to proteins containing thepolypeptides and the secreted proteins encoded by the cDNA clonesidentified in Table 1.

[0199] Nevertheless, DNA sequences generated by sequencing reactions cancontain sequencing errors. The errors exist as misidentifiednucleotides, or as insertions or deletions of nucleotides in thegenerated DNA sequence. The erroneously inserted or deleted nucleotidescause frame shifts in the reading frames of the predicted amino acidsequence. In these cases, the predicted amino acid sequence divergesfrom the actual amino acid sequence, even though the generated DNAsequence may be greater than 99.9% identical to the actual DNA sequence(for example, one base insertion or deletion in an open reading frame ofover 1000 bases).

[0200] Accordingly, for those applications requiring precision in thenucleotide sequence or the amino acid sequence, the present inventionprovides not only the generated nucleotide sequence identified as SEQ IDNO:X and the predicted translated amino acid sequence identified as SEQID NO:Y, but also a sample of plasmid DNA containing a human cDNA of theinvention deposited with the ATCC, as set forth in Table 1. Thenucleotide sequence of each deposited clone can readily be determined bysequencing the deposited clone in accordance with known methods. Thepredicted amino acid sequence can then be verified from such deposits.Moreover, the amino acid sequence of the protein encoded by a particularclone can also be directly determined by peptide sequencing or byexpressing the protein in a suitable host cell containing the depositedhuman cDNA, collecting the protein, and determining its sequence.

[0201] The present invention also relates to the genes corresponding toSEQ ID NO:X, SEQ ID NO:Y, or the deposited clone. The corresponding genecan be isolated in accordance with known methods using the sequenceinformation disclosed herein. Such methods include preparing probes orprimers from the disclosed sequence and identifying or amplifying thecorresponding gene from appropriate sources of genomic material.

[0202] Also provided in the present invention are allelic variants,orthologs, and/or species homologs. Procedures known in the art can beused to obtain full-length genes, allelic variants, splice variants,full-length coding portions, orthologs, and/or species homologs of genescorresponding to SEQ ID NO:X, SEQ ID NO:Y, or a deposited clone, usinginformation from the sequences disclosed herein or the clones depositedwith the ATCC. For example, allelic variants and/or species homologs maybe isolated and identified by making suitable probes or primers from thesequences provided herein and screening a suitable nucleic acid sourcefor allelic variants and/or the desired homologue.

[0203] Table 2 summarizes the expression profile of polynucleotidescorresponding to the clones disclosed in Table 1. The first columnprovides a unique clone identifier, “Clone ID”, for a cDNA clone relatedto each contig sequence disclosed in Table 1. Column 2, “LibraryCode(s)” shows the expression profile of tissue and/or cell linelibraries which express the polynucleotides of the invention. EachLibrary Code in column 2 represents a tissue/cell source identifier codecorresponding to the Library Code and Library description provided inTable 4. Expression of these polynucleotides was not observed in theother tissues and/or cell libraries tested. One of skill in the artcould routinely use this information to identify tissues which show apredominant expression pattern of the corresponding polynucleotide ofthe invention or to identify polynucleotides which show predominantand/or specific tissue expression.

[0204] Table 3, column 1, provides a nucleotide sequence identifier,“SEQ ID NO:X,” that matches a nucleotide SEQ ID NO:X disclosed in Table1, column 5. Table 3, column 2, provides the chromosomal location,“Cytologic Band or Chromosome,” of polynucleotides corresponding to SEQID NO:X. Chromosomal location was determined by finding exact matches toEST and cDNA sequences contained in the NCBI (National Center forBiotechnology Information) UniGene database. Given a presumptivechromosomal location, disease locus association was determined bycomparison with the Morbid Map, derived from Online MendelianInheritance in Man (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, OMIM™.McKusick-Nathans Institute for Genetic Medicine, Johns HopkinsUniversity (Baltimore, Md.) and National Center for BiotechnologyInformation, National Library of Medicine (Bethesda, Md.) 2000. WorldWide Web URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim/). If the putativechromosomal location of the Query overlapped with the chromosomallocation of a Morbid Map entry, the OMIM reference identification numberof the morbid map entry is provided in Table 3, column 3, labelled “OMIMReference(s).” A key to the OMIM reference identification numbers isprovided in Table 5.

[0205] Table 4 provides a key to the Library Code disclosed in Table 2.Column 1 provides the Library Code disclosed in Table 2, column 2.Column 2 provides a description of the tissue or cell source from whichthe corresponding library was derived. Library codes corresponding todiseased Tissues are indicated in column 3 with the word “disease”.

[0206] Table 5 provides a key to the OMIM reference identificationnumbers disclosed in Table 3, column 3. OMIM reference identificationnumbers (Column 1) were derived from Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, OMIM. McKusick-Nathans Institutefor Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, Md.) andNational Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library ofMedicine, (Bethesda, Md.) 2000. World Wide Web URL:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim/). Column 2 provides diseasesassociated with the cytologic band disclosed in Table 3, column 2, asdetermined using the Morbid Map database. TABLE 2 Clone ID LibraryCode(s) HAPNJ39 H0012 H0050 H0051 H0052 H0123 H0170 H0255 H0645 H0652H0662 L1290 S0052 S0150 S0388 S6026 T0006 HDQFU27 H0052 H0166 H0170H0411 H0444 H0485 H0542 H0547 H0559 H0596 H0597 H0624 H0646 L0022 L1290S0046 S0216 S0354 S6026 HETJZ45 H0046 H0593 H0643 S0310 S0328 S0330S0350 S0432 S0464 HTEMX36 H0013 H0031 H0038 H0090 H0163 H0170 H0266H0520 H0543 H0549 H0551 H0555 H0560 H0598 H0616 H0637 H0659 H0674 H0691L0022 S0011 S0142 S0152 S0214 S0330 S0380 S0384 S0424 S0468 S0474HNTCH90 H0090 H0266 H0294 H0445 H0485 H0521 H0539 H0553 H0595 H0646H0652 H0670 L0022 S0003 S0011 S0028 S0360 S3014 HA5BM53 H0013 H0032H0042 H0046 H0051 H0244 H0373 H0519 H0547 H0633 H0661 L0022 S0010 S0053S0312 S0314 S0330 S0344 S0386 S0474 HKBAL25 H0529 H0692 S0354 HE8EF43H0031 H0039 H0050 H0059 H0102 H0135 H0170 H0328 H0486 H0598 H0619 H0624H0645 H0663 L0022 S0010 S0126 HE2RN91 H0052 H0087 H0131 H0135 H0253H0286 H0521 H0539 H0545 H0593 H0618 H0661 H0671 H0689 H0696 L0022 S0046S0144 S0356 S0358 S0418 S0424 S3012 S3014 HNTDX22 H0038 L0022 HHFCE59H0013 H0124 H0436 H0478 H0486 H0538 H0547 H0556 H0591 H0635 L0022 S0134S0250 T0008 HCGAD44 H0090 H0123 H0144 H0253 H0294 H0411 H0428 H0488H0543 H0545 H0547 H0550 H0580 H0593 H0618 H0658 H0672 L0022 S0027 S0134S0194 S0356 S0360 S0418 S0420 HTLIO20 H0265 HE9PM90 H0009 H0013 H0083H0135 H0172 H0181 H0204 H0265 H0333 H0373 H0395 H0421 H0422 H0423 H0483H0484 H0494 H0497 H0545 H0547 H0549 H0551 H0556 H0560 H0561 H0574 H0592H0593 H0616 H0617 H0646 H0657 H0668 H0670 H0688 H0696 L0022 S0010 S0037S0040 S0045 S0046 S0049 S0051 S0116 S0132 S0134 S0206 S0208 S0214 S0218S0300 S0356 S0358 S0360 S0366 S0376 S0380 S0384 S0406 S0408 S0418 S0440S0442 S3014 T0042 hssjj51 H0030 H0038 H0050 H0052 H0086 H0087 H0100H0135 H0251 H0253 H0255 H0286 H0295 H0318 H0427 H0445 H0486 H0494 H0545H0550 H0551 H0594 H0597 H0599 H0600 H0618 H0619 H0633 H0670 H0673 H0693L0022 S0028 S0037 S0051 S0126 S0194 S0196 S0212 S0260 S0280 S0282 S0378S0470 T0049 HBIMF63 H0659 L0022

[0207] TABLE 3 SEQ Cytologic ID NO: Band or X Chromosome: OMIMReference(s): 26 5q35.3 28 17q22-q24 106180 109270 115660 120150 138700139250 148065 148080 148500 150200 154275 162100 170500 171190 176960182452 185800 221820 230200 249000 253250 254600 600525 600852 601844

[0208] TABLE 4 Library Code Library Description Disease H0009 HumanFetal Brain H0012 Human Fetal Kidney H0013 Human 8 Week Whole EmbryoH0030 Human Placenta H0031 Human Placenta H0032 Human Prostate H0038Human Testes H0039 Human Pancreas Tumor disease H0042 Human AdultPulmonary H0046 Human Endometrial Tumor disease H0050 Human Fetal HeartH0051 Human Hippocampus H0052 Human Cerebellum H0059 Human UterineCancer disease H0083 HUMAN JURKAT MEMBRANE BOUND POLYSOMES H0086 Humanepithelioid sarcoma disease H0087 Human Thymus H0090 Human T-CellLymphoma disease H0100 Human Whole Six Week Old Embryo H0102 Human Whole6 Week Old Embryo (II), subt H0123 Human Fetal Dura Mater H0124 HumanRhabdomyosarcoma disease H0131 LNCAP + o.3 nM R1881 H0135 Human SynovialSarcoma H0144 Nine Week Old Early Stage Human H0163 Human Synovium H0166Human Prostate Cancer, disease Stage B2 fraction H0170 12 Week Old EarlyStage Human H0172 Human Fetal Brain, random primed H0181 Human PrimaryBreast Cancer disease H0204 Human Colon Cancer, subtracted H0244 Human 8Week Whole Embryo, subtracted H0251 Human Chondrosarcoma disease H0253Human adult testis, large inserts H0255 breast lymph node CDNA libraryH0265 Activated T-Cell (12 hs)/ Thiouridine labelledEco H0266 HumanMicrovascular Endothelial Cells, fract. A H0286 Human OB MG63 treated(10 nM E2) fraction I H0294 Amniotic Cells - TNF induced H0295 AmnioticCells - Primary Culture H0318 HUMAN B CELL LYMPHOMA disease H0328 humanovarian cancer disease H0333 Hemangiopericytoma disease H0373 HumanHeart H0395 A1-CELL LINE H0411 H Female Bladder, Adult H0421 Human BoneMarrow, re-excision H0422 T-Cell PHA 16 hrs H0423 T-Cell PHA 24 hrsH0427 Human Adipose H0428 Human Ovary H0436 Resting T-Cell Library, IIH0444 Spleen metastic melanoma disease H0445 Spleen, Chronic lymphocyticleukemia disease H0478 Salivary Gland, Lib 2 H0483 Breast Cancer cellline, MDA 36 H0484 Breast Cancer Cell line, angiogenic H0485 Hodgkin'sLymphoma I disease H0486 Hodgkin's Lymphoma II disease H0488 HumanTonsils, Lib 2 H0494 Keratinocyte H0497 HEL cell line H0519 NTERA2,control H0520 NTERA2 + retinoic acid, 14 days H0521 Primary DendriticCells, lib 1 H0529 Myoloid Progenitor Cell Line H0538 Merkel Cells H0539Pancreas Islet Cell Tumor disease H0542 T Cell helper I H0543 T cellhelper II H0545 Human endometrial stromal cells- treated withprogesterone H0547 NTERA2 teratocarcinoma cell line + retinoic acid (14days) H0549 H. Epididiymus, caput & corpus H0550 H. Epididiymus, caudaH0551 Human Thymus Stromal Cells H0553 Human Placenta H0555 RejectedKidney, lib 4 disease H0556 Activated T-cell(12 h)/Thiouridine-re-excision H0559 HL-60, PMA 4H, re-excision H0560 KMH2H0561 L428 H0574 Hepatocellular Tumor, re-excision disease H0580Dendritic cells, pooled H0591 Human T-cell lymphoma, re-excision diseaseH0592 Healing groin wound - zero hr disease post-incision (control)H0593 Olfactory epithelium, nasalcavity H0594 Human Lung Cancer,re-excision disease H0595 Stomach cancer (human), re-excision diseaseH0596 Human Colon Cancer, re-excision H0597 Human Colon, re-excisionH0598 Human Stomach, re-excision H0599 Human Adult Heart, re-excisionH0600 Healing Abdomen wound, 70&90 min disease post incision H0616 HumanTestes, Reexcision H0617 Human Primary Breast Cancer Reexcision diseaseH0618 Human Adult Testes, Large Inserts, Reexcision H0619 Fetal HeartH0624 12 Week Early Stage Human II, Reexcision H0633 Lung Carcinoma A549TNFalpha disease activated H0635 Human Activated T-Cells, re-excisionH0637 Dendritic Cells From CD34 Cells H0643 Hep G2 Cells, PCR libraryH0645 Fetal Heart, re-excision H0646 Lung, Cancer (4005313 A3): InvasivePoorly Differentiated Lung Adenocarcinoma, H0652 Lung, Normal: (4005313B1) H0657 B-cells (stimulated) H0658 Ovary, Cancer (9809C332): Poorlydisease differentiated adenocarcinoma H0659 Ovary, Cancer (15395A1F):Grade II disease Papillary Carcinoma H0661 Breast, Cancer: (4004943 A5)disease H0662 Breast, Normal: (4005522B2) H0663 Breast, Cancer: (4005522A2) disease H0668 stromal cell clone 2.5 H0670 Ovary, Cancer(4004650A3): Well-Differentiated Micropapillary Serous Carcinoma H0671 Breast,Cancer: (9802C02OE) H0672 Ovary, Cancer: (4004576 A8) H0673 HumanProstate Cancer, Stage B2, re-excision H0674 Human Prostate Cancer,Stage C, re-excission H0688 Human Ovarian Cancer(#9807G017) H0689Ovarian Cancer H0691 Normal Ovary, #9710G208 H0692 BLyS Receptor fromExpression Cloning H0693 Normal Prostate #ODQ3958EN H0696 ProstateAdenocarcinoma L0022 NCI_CGAP_Kid5 L1290 Gessler Wilms tumor S0003 HumanOsteoclastoma disease S0010 Human Amygdala S0011 STROMAL -OSTEOCLASTOMAdisease S0027 Smooth muscle, serum treated S0028 Smooth muscle, controlS0037 Smooth muscle, IL1b induced S0040 Adipocytes S0045 Endothelialcells-control S0046 Endothelial-induced S0049 Human Brain, StriatumS0051 Human Hypothalmus, Schizophrenia disease S0052 neutrophils controlS0053 Neutrophils IL-1 and LPS induced S0116 Bone marrow S0126Osteoblasts S0132 Epithelial-TNFa and INF induced S0134 Apoptotic T-cellS0142 Macrophage-oxLDL S0144 Macrophage (GM-CSF treated) S0150 LNCAPprostate cell line S0152 PC3 Prostate cell line S0194 Synovial hypoxiaS0196 Synovial IL-1/TNF stimulated S0206 Smooth Muscle- HASTE normalizedS0208 Messangial cell, frac 1 S0212 Bone Marrow Stromal Cell, untreatedS0214 Human Osteoclastoma, re-excision disease S0216 Neutrophils IL-1and LPS induced S0218 Apoptotic T-cell, re-excision S0250 HumanOsteoblasts II disease S0260 Spinal Cord, re-excision S0280 HumanAdipose Tissue, re-excision S0282 Brain Frontal Cortex, re-excisionS0300 Frontal lobe, dementia, re-excision S0310 Normal trachea S0312Human osteoarthritic, fraction II disease S0314 Human osteoarthritis,fraction I disease S0328 Palate carcinoma disease S0330 Palate normalS0344 Macrophage-oxLDL, re-excision S0350 Pharynx Carcinoma diseaseS0354 Colon Normal II S0356 Colon Carcinoma disease S0358 Colon NormalIII S0360 Colon Tumor II disease S0366 Human Soleus S0376 Colon Tumordisease S0378 Pancreas normal PCA4 No S0380 Pancreas Tumor PCA4 Tudisease S0384 Tongue carcinoma disease S0386 Human Whole Brain,re-excision S0388 Human Hypothalamus, schizophrenia, disease re-excisionS0406 Rectum tumour S0408 Colon, normal S0418 CHME Cell Line, treated 5hrs S0420 CHME Cell Line, untreated S0424 TF-1 Cell Line GM-CSF TreatedS0432 Sinus piriformis Tumour S0440 Liver Tumour Met 5 Tu S0442 ColonNormal S0464 Larynx Normal S0468 Ea.hy.926 cell line S0470Adenocarcinoma disease S0474 Human blood platelets S3012 Smooth MuscleSerum Treated, Norm S3014 Smooth muscle, serum induced, re-exc S6026Frontal Lobe, Dementia T0006 Human Pineal Gland T0008 Colorectal Tumordisease T0042 Jurkat T-Cell, S phase T0049 Aorta endothelial cells +TNF-a

[0209] TABLE 5 OMIM Reference Description 106180 Myocardial infarction,susceptibility to 109270 Hemolytic anemia due to band 3 defect Renaltubular acidosis, distal, 179800 Spherocytosis, hereditary[Acanthocytosis, one form] [Elliptocytosis, Malaysian-Melanesian type]115660 Cataract, cerulean, type 1 120150 Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, typeVIIA1, 130060 Osteogenesis imperfecta, 4 clinical forms, 166200, 166210,259420, 166220 Osteoporosis, idiopathic, 166710 138700 [Apolipoprotein Hdeficiency] 139250 Isolated growth hormone deficiency, Illig type withabsent GH and Kowarski type with bioinactive GH 148065 White spongenevus, 193900 148080 Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis, 113800 148500 Tylosiswith esophageal cancer 150200 [Placental lactogen deficiency] 154275Malignant hyperthermia susceptibility 2 162100 Neuralgic amyotrophy withpredilection for brachial plexus 170500 Hyperkalemic periodic paralysisMyotonia congenita, atypical acetazolamide-responsive Paramyotoniacongenita, 168300 171190 Hypertension, essential, 145500 176960Pituitary tumor, invasive 182452 Lung cancer, small cell 185800Symphalangism, proximal 221820 Gliosis, familial progressive subcortical230200 Galactokinase deficiency with cataracts 249000 Meckel syndrome253250 Mulibrey nanism 254600 Myeloperoxidase deficiency 600525Trichodontoosseous syndrome, 190320 600852 Retinitis pigmentosa-17601844 Pseudohypoaldosteronism type II

[0210] The polypeptides of the invention can be prepared in any suitablemanner. Such polypeptides include isolated naturally occurringpolypeptides, recombinantly produced polypeptides, syntheticallyproduced polypeptides, or polypeptides produced by a combination ofthese methods. Means for preparing such polypeptides are well understoodin the art.

[0211] The polypeptides may be in the form of the secreted protein,including the mature form, or may be a part of a larger protein, such asa fusion protein (see below). It is often advantageous to include anadditional amino acid sequence which contains secretory or leadersequences, pro-sequences, sequences which aid in purification, such asmultiple histidine residues, or an additional sequence for stabilityduring recombinant production.

[0212] The polypeptides of the present invention are preferably providedin an isolated form, and preferably are substantially purified. Arecombinantly produced version of a polypeptide, including the secretedpolypeptide, can be substantially purified using techniques describedherein or otherwise known in the art, such as, for example, by theone-step method described in Smith and Johnson, Gene 67:31-40 (1988).Polypeptides of the invention also can be purified from natural,synthetic or recombinant sources using techniques described herein orotherwise known in the art, such as, for example, antibodies of theinvention raised against the secreted protein.

[0213] The present invention provides a polynucleotide comprising, oralternatively consisting of, the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:X,and/or a cDNA contained in ATCC deposit Z. The present invention alsoprovides a polypeptide comprising, or alternatively, consisting of, thepolypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y and/or a polypeptide encoded by thecDNA contained in ATCC deposit Z. Polynucleotides encoding a polypeptidecomprising, or alternatively consisting of the polypeptide sequence ofSEQ ID NO:Y and/or a polypeptide sequence encoded by the cDNA containedin ATCC deposit Z are also encompassed by the invention.

[0214] Signal Sequences

[0215] The present invention also encompasses mature forms of thepolypeptide having the polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y and/or thepolypeptide sequence encoded by the cDNA in a deposited clone.Polynucleotides encoding the mature forms (such as, for example, thepolynucleotide sequence in SEQ ID NO:X and/or the polynucleotidesequence contained in the cDNA of a deposited clone) are alsoencompassed by the invention. According to the signal hypothesis,proteins secreted by mammalian cells have a signal or secretary leadersequence which is cleaved from the mature protein once export of thegrowing protein chain across the rough endoplasmic reticulum has beeninitiated. Most mammalian cells and even insect cells cleave secretedproteins with the same specificity. However, in some cases, cleavage ofa secreted protein is not entirely uniform, which results in two or moremature species of the protein. Further, it has long been known thatcleavage specificity of a secreted protein is ultimately determined bythe primary structure of the complete protein, that is, it is inherentin the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide.

[0216] Methods for predicting whether a protein has a signal sequence,as well as the cleavage point for that sequence, are available. Forinstance, the method of McGeoch, Virus Res. 3:271-286 (1985), uses theinformation from a short N-terminal charged region and a subsequentuncharged region of the complete (uncleaved) protein. The method of vonHeinje, Nucleic Acids Res. 14:4683-4690 (1986) uses the information fromthe residues surrounding the cleavage site, typically residues −13 to+2, where +1 indicates the amino terminus of the secreted protein. Theaccuracy of predicting the cleavage points of known mammalian secretoryproteins for each of these methods is in the range of 75-80%. (vonHeinje, supra.) However, the two methods do not always produce the samepredicted cleavage point(s) for a given protein.

[0217] In the present case, the deduced amino acid sequence of thesecreted polypeptide was analyzed by a computer program called SignalP(Henrik Nielsen et al., Protein Engineering 10:1-6 (1997)), whichpredicts the cellular location of a protein based on the amino acidsequence. As part of this computational prediction of localization, themethods of McGeoch and von Heinje are incorporated. The analysis of theamino acid sequences of the secreted proteins described herein by thisprogram provided the results shown in Table 1.

[0218] As one of ordinary skill would appreciate, however, cleavagesites sometimes vary from organism to organism and cannot be predictedwith absolute certainty. Accordingly, the present invention providessecreted polypeptides having a sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:Y which havean N-terminus beginning within 5 residues (i.e., + or −5 residues) ofthe predicted cleavage point. Similarly, it is also recognized that insome cases, cleavage of the signal sequence from a secreted protein isnot entirely uniform, resulting in more than one secreted species. Thesepolypeptides, and the polynucleotides encoding such polypeptides, arecontemplated by the present invention.

[0219] Moreover, the signal sequence identified by the above analysismay not necessarily predict the naturally occurring signal sequence. Forexample, the naturally occurring signal sequence may be further upstreamfrom the predicted signal sequence. However, it is likely that thepredicted signal sequence will be capable of directing the secretedprotein to the ER. Nonetheless, the present invention provides themature protein produced by expression of the polynucleotide sequence ofSEQ ID NO:X and/or the polynucleotide sequence contained in the cDNA ofa deposited clone, in a mammalian cell (e.g., COS cells, as desribedbelow). These polypeptides, and the polynucleotides encoding suchpolypeptides, are contemplated by the present invention.

[0220] Polynucleotide and Polypeptide Variants

[0221] The present invention is directed to variants of thepolynucleotide sequence disclosed in SEQ ID NO:X, the complementarystrand thereto, and/or the cDNA sequence contained in a deposited clone.

[0222] The present invention also encompasses variants of thepolypeptide sequence disclosed in SEQ ID NO:Y and/or encoded by adeposited clone.

[0223] “Variant” refers to a polynucleotide or polypeptide differingfrom the polynucleotide or polypeptide of the present invention, butretaining essential properties thereof. Generally, variants are overallclosely similar, and, in many regions, identical to the polynucleotideor polypeptide of the present invention.

[0224] The present invention is also directed to nucleic acid moleculeswhich comprise, or alternatively consist of, a nucleotide sequence whichis at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to, forexample, the nucleotide coding sequence in SEQ ID NO:X or thecomplementary strand thereto, the nucleotide coding sequence containedin a deposited cDNA clone or the complementary strand thereto, anucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y, anucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide encoded by the cDNAcontained in a deposited clone, and/or polynucleotide fragments of anyof these nucleic acid molecules (e.g., those fragments describedherein). Polynucleotides which hybridize to these nucleic acid moleculesunder stringent hybridization conditions or lower stringency conditionsare also encompassed by the invention, as are polypeptides encoded bythese polynucleotides.

[0225] The present invention is also directed to polypeptides whichcomprise, or alternatively consist of, an amino acid sequence which isat least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% identical to, forexample, the polypeptide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:Y, the polypeptidesequence encoded by the cDNA contained in a deposited clone, and/orpolypeptide fragments of any of these polypeptides (e.g., thosefragments described herein).

[0226] By a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence at least, forexample, 95% “identical” to a reference nucleotide sequence of thepresent invention, it is intended that the nucleotide sequence of thenucleic acid is identical to the reference sequence except that thenucleotide sequence may include up to five point mutations per each 100nucleotides of the reference nucleotide sequence encoding thepolypeptide. In other words, to obtain a nucleic acid having anucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to a reference nucleotidesequence, up to 5% of the nucleotides in the reference sequence may bedeleted or substituted with another nucleotide, or a number ofnucleotides up to 5% of the total nucleotides in the reference sequencemay be inserted into the reference sequence. The query sequence may bean entire sequence shown in Table 1, the ORF (open reading frame), orany fragment specified as described herein.

[0227] As a practical matter, whether any particular nucleic acidmolecule or polypeptide is at least 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or99% identical to a nucleotide sequence of the presence invention can bedetermined conventionally using known computer programs. A preferredmethod for determining the best overall match between a query sequence(a sequence of the present invention) and a subject sequence, alsoreferred to as a global sequence alignment, can be determined using theFASTDB computer program based on the algorithm of Brutlag et al. (Comp.App. Biosci. 6:237-245(1990)). In a sequence alignment the query andsubject sequences are both DNA sequences. An RNA sequence can becompared by converting U's to T's. The result of said global sequencealignment is in percent identity. Preferred parameters used in a FASTDBalignment of DNA sequences to calculate percent identiy are:Matrix=Unitary, k-tuple=4, Mismatch Penalty=1, Joining Penalty=30,Randomization Group Length=0, Cutoff Score=1, Gap Penalty=5, Gap SizePenalty 0.05, Window Size=500 or the lenght of the subject nucleotidesequence, whichever is shorter.

[0228] If the subject sequence is shorter than the query sequencebecause of 5′ or 3′ deletions, not because of internal deletions, amanual correction must be made to the results. This is because theFASTDB program does not account for 5′ and 3′ truncations of the subjectsequence when calculating percent identity. For subject sequencestruncated at the 5′ or 3′ ends, relative to the query sequence, thepercent identity is corrected by calculating the number of bases of thequery sequence that are 5′ and 3′ of the subject sequence, which are notmatched/aligned, as a percent of the total bases of the query sequence.Whether a nucleotide is matched/aligned is determined by results of theFASTDB sequence alignment. This percentage is then subtracted from thepercent identity, calculated by the above FASTDB program using thespecified parameters, to arrive at a final percent identity score. Thiscorrected score is what is used for the purposes of the presentinvention. Only bases outside the 5′ and 3′ bases of the subjectsequence, as displayed by the FASTDB alignment, which are notmatched/aligned with the query sequence, are calculated for the purposesof manually adjusting the percent identity score.

[0229] For example, a 90 base subject sequence is aligned to a 100 basequery sequence to determine percent identity. The deletions occur at the5′ end of the subject sequence and therefore, the FASTDB alignment doesnot show a matched/alignment of the first 10 bases at 5′ end. The 10unpaired bases represent 10% of the sequence (number of bases at the 5′and 3′ ends not matched/total number of bases in the query sequence) so10% is subtracted from the percent identity score calculated by theFASTDB program. If the remaining 90 bases were perfectly matched thefinal percent identity would be 90%. In another example, a 90 basesubject sequence is compared with a 100 base query sequence. This timethe deletions are internal deletions so that there are no bases on the5′ or 3′ of the subject sequence which are not matched/aligned with thequery. In this case the percent identity calculated by FASTDB is notmanually corrected. Once again, only bases 5′ and 3′ of the subjectsequence which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence aremanually corrected for. No other manual corrections are to made for thepurposes of the present invention.

[0230] By a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least, forexample, 95% “identical” to a query amino acid sequence of the presentinvention, it is intended that the amino acid sequence of the subjectpolypeptide is identical to the query sequence except that the subjectpolypeptide sequence may include up to five amino acid alterations pereach 100 amino acids of the query amino acid sequence. In other words,to obtain a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least 95%identical to a query amino acid sequence, up to 5% of the amino acidresidues in the subject sequence may be inserted, deleted, (indels) orsubstituted with another amino acid. These alterations of the referencesequence may occur at the amino or carboxy terminal positions of thereference amino acid sequence or anywhere between those terminalpositions, interspersed either individually among residues in thereference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within thereference sequence.

[0231] As a practical matter, whether any particular polypeptide is atleast 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to, forinstance, an amino acid sequences shown in Table 1 (SEQ ID NO:Y) or tothe amino acid sequence encoded by cDNA contained in a deposited clonecan be determined conventionally using known computer programs. Apreferred method for determing the best overall match between a querysequence (a sequence of the present invention) and a subject sequence,also referred to as a global sequence alignment, can be determined usingthe FASTDB computer program based on the algorithm of Brutlag et al.(Comp. App. Biosci. 6:237-245(1990)). In a sequence alignment the queryand subject sequences are either both nucleotide sequences or both aminoacid sequences. The result of said global sequence alignment is inpercent identity. Preferred parameters used in a FASTDB amino acidalignment are: Matrix=PAM 0, k-tuple=2, Mismatch Penalty=1, JoiningPenalty=20, Randomization Group Length=0, Cutoff Score=1, WindowSize=sequence length, Gap Penalty=5, Gap Size Penalty=0.05, WindowSize=500 or the length of the subject amino acid sequence, whichever isshorter.

[0232] If the subject sequence is shorter than the query sequence due toN- or C-terminal deletions, not because of internal deletions, a manualcorrection must be made to the results. This is because the FASTDBprogram does not account for N- and C-terminal truncations of thesubject sequence when calculating global percent identity. For subjectsequences truncated at the N- and C-termini, relative to the querysequence, the percent identity is corrected by calculating the number ofresidues of the query sequence that are N- and C-terminal of the subjectsequence, which are not matched/aligned with a corresponding subjectresidue, as a percent of the total bases of the query sequence. Whethera residue is matched/aligned is determined by results of the FASTDBsequence alignment. This percentage is then subtracted from the percentidentity, calculated by the above FASTDB program using the specifiedparameters, to arrive at a final percent identity score. This finalpercent identity score is what is used for the purposes of the presentinvention. Only residues to the N- and C-termini of the subjectsequence, which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence, areconsidered for the purposes of manually adjusting the percent identityscore. That is, only query residue positions outside the farthest N- andC-terminal residues of the subject sequence.

[0233] For example, a 90 amino acid residue subject sequence is alignedwith a 100 residue query sequence to determine percent identity. Thedeletion occurs at the N-terminus of the subject sequence and therefore,the FASTDB alignment does not show a matching/alignment of the first 10residues at the N-terminus. The 10 unpaired residues represent 10% ofthe sequence (number of residues at the N- and C-termini notmatched/total number of residues in the query sequence) so 10% issubtracted from the percent identity score calculated by the FASTDBprogram. If the remaining 90 residues were perfectly matched the finalpercent identity would be 90%. In another example, a 90 residue subjectsequence is compared with a 100 residue query sequence. This time thedeletions are internal deletions so there are no residues at the N- orC-termini of the subject sequence which are not matched/aligned with thequery. In this case the percent identity calculated by FASTDB is notmanually corrected. Once again, only residue positions outside the N-and C-terminal ends of the subject sequence, as displayed in the FASTDBalignment, which are not matched/aligned with the query sequence aremanually corrected for. No other manual corrections are to made for thepurposes of the present invention.

[0234] The variants may contain alterations in the coding regions,non-coding regions, or both. Especially preferred are polynucleotidevariants containing alterations which produce silent substitutions,additions, or deletions, but do not alter the properties or activitiesof the encoded polypeptide. Nucleotide variants produced by silentsubstitutions due to the degeneracy of the genetic code are preferred.Moreover, variants in which 5-10, 1-5, or 1-2 amino acids aresubstituted, deleted, or added in any combination are also preferred.Polynucleotide variants can be produced for a variety of reasons, e.g.,to optimize codon expression for a particular host (change codons in thehuman mRNA to those preferred by a bacterial host such as E. coli).

[0235] Naturally occurring variants are called “allelic variants,” andrefer to one of several alternate forms of a gene occupying a givenlocus on a chromosome of an organism. (Genes II, Lewin, B., ed., JohnWiley & Sons, New York (1985).) These allelic variants can vary ateither the polynucleotide and/or polypeptide level and are included inthe present invention. Alternatively, non-naturally occurring variantsmay be produced by mutagenesis techniques or by direct synthesis.

[0236] Using known methods of protein engineering and recombinant DNAtechnology, variants may be generated to improve or alter thecharacteristics of the polypeptides of the present invention. Forinstance, one or more amino acids can be deleted from the N-terminus orC-terminus of the secreted protein without substantial loss ofbiological function. The authors of Ron et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268:2984-2988 (1993), reported variant KGF proteins having heparin bindingactivity even after deleting 3, 8, or 27 amino-terminal amino acidresidues. Similarly, Interferon gamma exhibited up to ten times higheractivity after deleting 8-10 amino acid residues from the carboxyterminus of this protein. (Dobeli et al., J. Biotechnology 7:199-216(1988).)

[0237] Moreover, ample evidence demonstrates that variants often retaina biological activity similar to that of the naturally occurringprotein. For example, Gayle and coworkers (J. Biol. Chem 268:22105-22111(1993)) conducted extensive mutational analysis of human cytokine IL-1a. They used random mutagenesis to generate over 3,500 individual IL-1amutants that averaged 2.5 amino acid changes per variant over the entirelength of the molecule. Multiple mutations were examined at everypossible amino acid position. The investigators found that “[m]ost ofthe molecule could be altered with little effect on either [binding orbiological activity].” (See, Abstract.) In fact, only 23 unique aminoacid sequences, out of more than 3,500 nucleotide sequences examined,produced a protein that significantly differed in activity fromwild-type.

[0238] Furthermore, even if deleting one or more amino acids from theN-terminus or C-terminus of a polypeptide results in modification orloss of one or more biological functions, other biological activitiesmay still be retained. For example, the ability of a deletion variant toinduce and/or to bind antibodies which recognize the secreted form willlikely be retained when less than the majority of the residues of thesecreted form are removed from the N-terminus or C-terminus. Whether aparticular polypeptide lacking N- or C-terminal residues of a proteinretains such immunogenic activities can readily be determined by routinemethods described herein and otherwise known in the art.

[0239] Thus, the invention further includes polypeptide variants whichshow substantial biological activity. Such variants include deletions,insertions, inversions, repeats, and substitutions selected according togeneral rules known in the art so as have little effect on activity. Forexample, guidance concerning how to make phenotypically silent aminoacid substitutions is provided in Bowie et al., Science 247:1306-1310(1990), wherein the authors indicate that there are two main strategiesfor studying the tolerance of an amino acid sequence to change.

[0240] The first strategy exploits the tolerance of amino acidsubstitutions by natural selection during the process of evolution. Bycomparing amino acid sequences in different species, conserved aminoacids can be identified. These conserved amino acids are likelyimportant for protein function. In contrast, the amino acid positionswhere substitutions have been tolerated by natural selection indicatesthat these positions are not critical for protein function. Thus,positions tolerating amino acid substitution could be modified whilestill maintaining biological activity of the protein.

[0241] The second strategy uses genetic engineering to introduce aminoacid changes at specific positions of a cloned gene to identify regionscritical for protein function. For example, site directed mutagenesis oralanine-scanning mutagenesis (introduction of single alanine mutationsat every residue in the molecule) can be used. (Cunningham and Wells,Science 244:1081-1085 (1989).) The resulting mutant molecules can thenbe tested for biological activity.

[0242] As the authors state, these two strategies have revealed thatproteins are surprisingly tolerant of amino acid substitutions. Theauthors further indicate which amino acid changes are likely to bepermissive at certain amino acid positions in the protein. For example,most buried (within the tertiary structure of the protein) amino acidresidues require nonpolar side chains, whereas few features of surfaceside chains are generally conserved. Moreover, tolerated conservativeamino acid substitutions involve replacement of the aliphatic orhydrophobic amino acids Ala, Val, Leu and Ile; replacement of thehydroxyl residues Ser and Thr; replacement of the acidic residues Aspand Glu; replacement of the amide residues Asn and Gln, replacement ofthe basic residues Lys, Arg, and His; replacement of the aromaticresidues Phe, Tyr, and Trp, and replacement of the small-sized aminoacids Ala, Ser, Thr, Met, and Gly.

[0243] Besides conservative amino acid substitution, variants of thepresent invention include (i) substitutions with one or more of thenon-conserved amino acid residues, where the substituted amino acidresidues may or may not be one encoded by the genetic code, or (ii)substitution with one or more of amino acid residues having asubstituent group, or (iii) fusion of the mature polypeptide withanother compound, such as a compound to increase the stability and/orsolubility of the polypeptide (for example, polyethylene glycol), or(iv) fusion of the polypeptide with additional amino acids, such as, forexample, an IgG Fc fusion region peptide, or leader or secretorysequence, or a sequence facilitating purification or (v) fusion of thepolypeptide with another compound, such as albumin (including, but notlimited to, recombinant albumin (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,969,issued Mar. 2, 1999, EP Patent 0413 622, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,883,issued Jun. 16, 1998, herein incorporated by reference in theirentirety)). Such variant polypeptides are deemed to be within the scopeof those skilled in the art from the teachings herein.

[0244] For example, polypeptide variants containing amino acidsubstitutions of charged amino acids with other charged or neutral aminoacids may produce proteins with improved characteristics, such as lessaggregation. Aggregation of pharmaceutical formulations both reducesactivity and increases clearance due to the aggregate's immunogenicactivity. (Pinckard et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol. 2:331-340 (1967);Robbins et al., Diabetes 36: 838-845 (1987); Cleland et al., Crit. Rev.Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems 10:307-377 (1993).)

[0245] A further embodiment of the invention relates to a polypeptidewhich comprises the amino acid sequence of the present invention havingan amino acid sequence which contains at least one amino acidsubstitution, but not more than 50 amino acid substitutions, even morepreferably, not more than 40 amino acid substitutions, still morepreferably, not more than 30 amino acid substitutions, and still evenmore preferably, not more than 20 amino acid substitutions. Of course,in order of ever-increasing preference, it is highly preferable for apeptide or polypeptide to have an amino acid sequence which comprisesthe amino acid sequence of the present invention, which contains atleast one, but not more than 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 amino acidsubstitutions. In specific embodiments, the number of additions,substitutions, and/or deletions in the amino acid sequence of thepresent invention or fragments thereof (e.g., the mature form and/orother fragments described herein), is 1-5,5-10, 5-25, 5-50, 10-50 or50-150, conservative amino acid substitutions are preferable.

[0246] Polynucleotide and Polypeptide Fragments

[0247] The present invention is also directed to polynucleotidefragments of the polynucleotides of the invention.

[0248] In the present invention, a “polynucleotide fragment” refers to ashort polynucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence which: is a portionof that contained in a deposited clone, or encoding the polypeptideencoded by the cDNA in a deposited clone; is a portion of that shown inSEQ ID NO:X or the complementary strand thereto, or is a portion of apolynucleotide sequence encoding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:Y. Thenucleotide fragments of the invention are preferably at least about 15nt, and more preferably at least about 20 nt, still more preferably atleast about 30 nt, and even more preferably, at least about 40 nt, atleast about 50 nt, at least about 75 nt, or at least about 150 nt inlength. A fragment “at least 20 nt in length,” for example, is intendedto include 20 or more contiguous bases from the cDNA sequence containedin a deposited clone or the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:X. Inthis context “about” includes the particularly recited value, a valuelarger or smaller by several (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1) nucleotides, at eitherterminus or at both termini. These nucleotide fragments have uses thatinclude, but are not limited to, as diagnostic probes and primers asdiscussed herein. Of course, larger fragments (e.g., 50, 150, 500, 600,2000 nucleotides) are preferred.

[0249] Moreover, representative examples of polynucleotide fragments ofthe invention, include, for example, fragments comprising, oralternatively consisting of, a sequence from about nucleotide number1-50, 51-100, 101-150, 151-200, 201-250, 251-300, 301-350, 351-400,401-450, 451-500, 501-550, 551-600, 651-700, 701-750, 751-800, 800-850,851-900, 901-950, 951-1000, 1001-1050, 1051-1100, 1101-1150, 1151-1200,1201-1250, 1251-1300, 1301-1350, 1351-1400, 1401-1450, 1451-1500,1501-1550, 1551-1600, 1601-1650, 1651-1700, 1701-1750, 1751-1800,1801-1850, 1851-1900, 1901-1950, 1951-2000, or 2001 to the end of SEQ IDNO:X, or the complementary strand thereto, or the cDNA contained in adeposited clone. In this context “about” includes the particularlyrecited ranges, and ranges larger or smaller by several (5, 4, 3, 2,or 1) nucleotides, at either terminus or at both termini. Preferably,these fragments encode a polypeptide which has biological activity. Morepreferably, these polynucleotides can be used as probes or primers asdiscussed herein. Polynucleotides which hybridize to these nucleic acidmolecules under stringent hybridization conditions or lower stringencyconditions are also encompassed by the invention, as are polypeptidesencoded by these polynucleotides.

[0250] In the present invention, a “polypeptide fragment” refers to anamino acid sequence which is a portion of that contained in SEQ ID NO:Yor encoded by the cDNA contained in a deposited clone. Protein(polypeptide) fragments may be “free-standing,” or comprised within alarger polypeptide of which the fragment forms a part or region, mostpreferably as a single continuous region. Representative examples ofpolypeptide fragments of the invention, include, for example, fragmentscomprising, or alternatively consisting of, from about amino acid number1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, 102-120, 121-140, 141-160, or 161 tothe end of the coding region. Moreover, polypeptide fragments can beabout 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, or 150amino acids in length. In this context “about” includes the particularlyrecited ranges or values, and ranges or values larger or smaller byseveral (5, 4, 3, 2, or 1) amino acids, at either extreme or at bothextremes. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are alsoencompassed by the invention.

[0251] Preferred polypeptide fragments include the secreted protein aswell as the mature form. Further preferred polypeptide fragments includethe secreted protein or the mature form having a continuous series ofdeleted residues from the amino or the carboxy terminus, or both. Forexample, any number of amino acids, ranging from 1-60, can be deletedfrom the amino terminus of either the secreted polypeptide or the matureform. Similarly, any number of amino acids, ranging from 1-30, can bedeleted from the carboxy terminus of the secreted protein or matureform. Furthermore, any combination of the above amino and carboxyterminus deletions are preferred. Similarly, polynucleotides encodingthese polypeptide fragments are also preferred.

[0252] Also preferred are polypeptide and polynucleotide fragmentscharacterized by structural or functional domains, such as fragmentsthat comprise alpha-helix and alpha-helix forming regions, beta-sheetand beta-sheet-forming regions, turn and turn-forming regions, coil andcoil-forming regions, hydrophilic regions, hydrophobic regions, alphaamphipathic regions, beta amphipathic regions, flexible regions,surface-forming regions, substrate binding region, and high antigenicindex regions. Polypeptide fragments of SEQ ID NO:Y falling withinconserved domains are specifically contemplated by the presentinvention. Moreover, polynucleotides encoding these domains are alsocontemplated.

[0253] Other preferred polypeptide fragments are biologically activefragments. Biologically active fragments are those exhibiting activitysimilar, but not necessarily identical, to an activity of thepolypeptide of the present invention. The biological activity of thefragments may include an improved desired activity, or a decreasedundesirable activity. Polynucleotides encoding these polypeptidefragments are also encompassed by the invention.

[0254] Preferably, the polynucleotide fragments of the invention encodea polypeptide which demonstrates a functional activity. By a polypeptidedemonstrating a “functional activity” is meant, a polypeptide capable ofdisplaying one or more known functional activities associated with afull-length (complete) polypeptide of invention protein. Such functionalactivities include, but are not limited to, biological activity,antigenicity [ability to bind (or compete with a polypeptide of theinvention for binding) to an antibody to the polypeptide of theinvention], immunogenicity (ability to generate antibody which binds toa polypeptide of the invention), ability to form multimers withpolypeptides of the invention, and ability to bind to a receptor orligand for a polypeptide of the invention.

[0255] The functional activity of polypeptides of the invention, andfragments, variants derivatives, and analogs thereof, can be assayed byvarious methods.

[0256] For example, in one embodiment where one is assaying for theability to bind or compete with full-length polypeptide of the inventionfor binding to an antibody of the polypeptide of the invention, variousimmunoassays known in the art can be used, including but not limited to,competitive and non-competitive assay systems using techniques such asradioimmunoassays, ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), “sandwich”immunoassays, immunoradiometric assays, gel diffusion precipitationreactions, immunodiffusion assays, in situ immunoassays (using colloidalgold, enzyme or radioisotope labels, for example), western blots,precipitation reactions, agglutination assays (e.g., gel agglutinationassays, hemagglutination assays), complement fixation assays,immunofluorescence assays, protein A assays, and immunoelectrophoresisassays, etc. In one embodiment, antibody binding is detected bydetecting a label on the primary antibody. In another embodiment, theprimary antibody is detected by detecting binding of a secondaryantibody or reagent to the primary antibody. In a further embodiment,the secondary antibody is labeled. Many means are known in the art fordetecting binding in an immunoassay and are within the scope of thepresent invention.

[0257] In another embodiment, where a ligand for a polypeptide of theinvention identified, or the ability of a polypeptide fragment, variantor derivative of the invention to multimerize is being evaluated,binding can be assayed, e.g., by means well-known in the art, such as,for example, reducing and non-reducing gel chromatography, proteinaffinity chromatography, and affinity blotting. See generally, Phizicky,E., et al., 1995, Microbiol. Rev. 59:94-123. In another embodiment,physiological correlates of binding of a polypeptide of the invention toits substrates (signal transduction) can be assayed.

[0258] In addition, assays described herein (see Examples) and otherwiseknown in the art may routinely be applied to measure the ability ofpolypeptides of the invention and fragments, variants derivatives andanalogs thereof to elicit related biological activity related to that ofthe polypeptide of the invention (either in vitro or in vivo). Othermethods will be known to the skilled artisan and are within the scope ofthe invention.

[0259] Epitopes and Antibodies

[0260] The present invention encompasses polypeptides comprising, oralternatively consisting of, an epitope of the polypeptide having anamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y, or an epitope of the polypeptidesequence encoded by a polynucleotide sequence contained in ATCC depositNo. Z or encoded by a polynucleotide that hybridizes to the complementof the sequence of SEQ ID NO:X or contained in ATCC deposit No. Z understringent hybridization conditions or lower stringency hybridizationconditions as defined supra. The present invention further encompassespolynucleotide sequences encoding an epitope of a polypeptide sequenceof the invention (such as, for example, the sequence disclosed in SEQ IDNO:X), polynucleotide sequences of the complementary strand of apolynucleotide sequence encoding an epitope of the invention, andpolynucleotide sequences which hybridize to the complementary strandunder stringent hybridization conditions or lower stringencyhybridization conditions defined supra.

[0261] The term “epitopes,” as used herein, refers to portions of apolypeptide having antigenic or immunogenic activity in an animal,preferably a mammal, and most preferably in a human. In a preferredembodiment, the present invention encompasses a polypeptide comprisingan epitope, as well as the polynucleotide encoding this polypeptide. An“immunogenic epitope,” as used herein, is defined as a portion of aprotein that elicits an antibody response in an animal, as determined byany method known in the art, for example, by the methods for generatingantibodies described infra. (See, for example, Geysen et al., Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:3998-4002 (1983)). The term “antigenic epitope,”as used herein, is defined as a portion of a protein to which anantibody can immunospecifically bind its antigen as determined by anymethod well known in the art, for example, by the immunoassays describedherein. Immunospecific binding excludes non-specific binding but doesnot necessarily exclude cross- reactivity with other antigens. Antigenicepitopes need not necessarily be immunogenic.

[0262] Fragments which function as epitopes may be produced by anyconventional means. (See, e.g., Houghten, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA82:5131-5135 (1985), further described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,211).

[0263] In the present invention, antigenic epitopes preferably contain asequence of at least 4, at least 5, at least 6, at least 7, morepreferably at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, at least 11, at least12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, atleast 30, at least 40, at least 50, and, most preferably, between about15 to about 30 amino acids. Preferred polypeptides comprisingimmunogenic or antigenic epitopes are at least 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35,40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, or 100 amino acidresidues in length. Additional non-exclusive preferred antigenicepitopes include the antigenic epitopes disclosed herein, as well asportions thereof. Antigenic epitopes are useful, for example, to raiseantibodies, including monoclonal antibodies, that specifically bind theepitope. Preferred antigenic epitopes include the antigenic epitopesdisclosed herein, as well as any combination of two, three, four, fiveor more of these antigenic epitopes. Antigenic epitopes can be used asthe target molecules in immunoassays. (See, for instance, Wilson et al.,Cell 37:767-778 (1984); Sutcliffe et al., Science 219:660-666 (1983)).

[0264] Similarly, immunogenic epitopes can be used, for example, toinduce antibodies according to methods well known in the art. (See, forinstance, Sutcliffe et al., supra; Wilson et al., supra; Chow et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:910-914; and Bittle et al., J. Gen. Virol.66:2347-2354 (1985). Preferred immunogenic epitopes include theimmunogenic epitopes disclosed herein, as well as any combination oftwo, three, four, five or more of these immunogenic epitopes. Thepolypeptides comprising one or more immunogenic epitopes may bepresented for eliciting an antibody response together with a carrierprotein, such as an albumin, to an animal system (such as rabbit ormouse), or, if the polypeptide is of sufficient length (at least about25 amino acids), the polypeptide may be presented without a carrier.However, immunogenic epitopes comprising as few as 8 to 10 amino acidshave been shown to be sufficient to raise antibodies capable of bindingto, at the very least, linear epitopes in a denatured polypeptide (e.g.,in Western blotting).

[0265] Epitope-bearing polypeptides of the present invention may be usedto induce antibodies according to methods well known in the artincluding, but not limited to, in vivo immunization, in vitroimmunization, and phage display methods. See, e.g., Sutcliffe et al.,supra; Wilson et al., supra, and Bittle et al., J. Gen. Virol.,66:2347-2354 (1985). If in vivo immunization is used, animals may beimmunized with free peptide; however, anti-peptide antibody titer may beboosted by coupling the peptide to a macromolecular carrier, such askeyhole limpet hemacyanin (KLH) or tetanus toxoid. For instance,peptides containing cysteine residues may be coupled to a carrier usinga linker such as maleimidobenzoyl- N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS),while other peptides may be coupled to carriers using a more generallinking agent such as glutaraldehyde. Animals such as rabbits, rats andmice are immunized with either free or carrier- coupled peptides, forinstance, by intraperitoneal and/or intradermal injection of emulsionscontaining about 100 μg of peptide or carrier protein and Freund'sadjuvant or any other adjuvant known for stimulating an immune response.Several booster injections may be needed, for instance, at intervals ofabout two weeks, to provide a useful titer of anti-peptide antibodywhich can be detected, for example, by ELISA assay using free peptideadsorbed to a solid surface. The titer of anti-peptide antibodies inserum from an immunized animal may be increased by selection ofanti-peptide antibodies, for instance, by adsorption to the peptide on asolid support and elution of the selected antibodies according tomethods well known in the art.

[0266] As one of skill in the art will appreciate, and as discussedabove, the polypeptides of the present invention (e.g., those comprisingan immunogenic or antigenic epitope) can be fused to heterologouspolypeptide sequences. For example, polypeptides of the presentinvention (including fragments or variants thereof), may be fused withthe constant domain of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgE, IgG, IgM), or portionsthereof (CH1, CH2, CH3, or any combination thereof and portions thereof,resulting in chimeric polypeptides. By way of another non-limitingexample, polypeptides and/or antibodies of the present invention(including fragments or variants thereof) may be fused with albumin(including but not limited to recombinant human serum albumin orfragments or variants thereof (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,969,issued Mar. 2, 1999, EP Patent 0 413 622, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,883,issued Jun. 16, 1998, herein incorporated by reference in theirentirety)). In a preferred embodiment, polypeptides and/or antibodies ofthe present invention (including fragments or variants thereof) arefused with the mature form of human serum albumin (i.e., amino acids1-585 of human serum albumin as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of EP Patent 0322 094) which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Inanother preferred embodiment, polypeptides and/or antibodies of thepresent invention (including fragments or variants thereof) are fusedwith polypeptide fragments comprising, or alternatively consisting of,amino acid residues 1-z of human serum albumin, where z is an integerfrom 369 to 419, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,766,883 hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety. Polypeptides and/orantibodies of the present invention (including fragments or variantsthereof) may be fused to either the N- or C-terminal end of theheterologous protein (e.g., immunoglobulin Fc polypeptide or human serumalbumin polypeptide). Polynucleotides encoding fusion proteins of theinvention are also encompassed by the invention.

[0267] Such fusion proteins may facilitate purification and may increasehalf-life in vivo. This has been shown for chimeric proteins consistingof the first two domains of the human CD4-polypeptide and variousdomains of the constant regions of the heavy or light chains ofmammalian immunoglobulins. See, e.g., EP 394,827; Traunecker et al.,Nature, 331:84-86 (1988). Enhanced delivery of an antigen across theepithelial barrier to the immune system has been demonstrated forantigens (e.g., insulin) conjugated to an FcRn binding partner such asIgG or Fc fragments (see, e.g., PCT Publications WO 96/22024 and WO99/04813). IgG Fusion proteins that have a disulfide-linked dimericstructure due to the IgG portion desulfide bonds have also been found tobe more efficient in binding and neutralizing other molecules thanmonomeric polypeptides or fragments thereof alone. See, e.g.,Fountoulakis et al., J. Biochem., 270:3958-3964 (1995). Nucleic acidsencoding the above epitopes can also be recombined with a gene ofinterest as an epitope tag (e.g., the hemagglutinin (“HA”) tag or flagtag) to aid in detection and purification of the expressed polypeptide.For example, a system described by Janknecht et al. allows for the readypurification of non-denatured fusion proteins expressed in human celllines (Janknecht et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:8972-897).In this system, the gene of interest is subcloned into a vacciniarecombination plasmid such that the open reading frame of the gene istranslationally fused to an amino-terminal tag consisting of sixhistidine residues. The tag serves as a matrix binding domain for thefusion protein. Extracts from cells infected with the recombinantvaccinia virus are loaded onto Ni2+ nitriloacetic acid-agarose columnand histidine-tagged proteins can be selectively eluted withimidazole-containing buffers.

[0268] Additional fusion proteins of the invention may be generatedthrough the techniques of gene-shuffling, motif-shuffling,exon-shuffling, and/or codon-shuffling (collectively referred to as “DNAshuffling”). DNA shuffling may be employed to modulate the activities ofpolypeptides of the invention, such methods can be used to generatepolypeptides with altered activity, as well as agonists and antagonistsof the polypeptides. See, generally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,793;5,811,238; 5,830,721; 5,834,252; and 5,837,458, and Patten et al., Curr.Opinion Biotechnol. 8:724-33 (1997); Harayama, Trends Biotechnol.16(2):76-82 (1998); Hansson, et al., J. Mol. Biol. 287:265-76 (1999);and Lorenzo and Blasco, Biotechniques 24(2):308-13 (1998) (each of thesepatents and publications are hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety). In one embodiment, alteration of polynucleotidescorresponding to SEQ ID NO:X and the polypeptides encoded by thesepolynucleotides may be achieved by DNA shuffling. DNA shuffling involvesthe assembly of two or more DNA segments by homologous or site-specificrecombination to generate variation in the polynucleotide sequence. Inanother embodiment, polynucleotides of the invention, or the encodedpolypeptides, may be altered by being subjected to random mutagenesis byerror-prone PCR, random nucleotide insertion or other methods prior torecombination. In another embodiment, one or more components, motifs,sections, parts, domains, fragments, etc., of a polynucleotide encodinga polypeptide of the invention may be recombined with one or morecomponents, motifs, sections, parts, domains, fragments, etc. of one ormore heterologous molecules.

[0269] Antibodies

[0270] Further polypeptides of the invention relate to antibodies andT-cell antigen receptors (TCR) which immunospecifically bind apolypeptide, polypeptide fragment, or variant of SEQ ID NO:Y, and/or anepitope, of the present invention (as determined by immunoassays wellknown in the art for assaying specific antibody-antigen binding).Antibodies of the invention include, but are not limited to, polyclonal,monoclonal, multispecific, human, humanized or chimeric antibodies,single chain antibodies, Fab fragments, F(ab′) fragments, fragmentsproduced by a Fab expression library, anti-idiotypic (anti-Id)antibodies (including, e.g., anti-Id antibodies to antibodies of theinvention), and epitope-binding fragments of any of the above. The term“antibody,” as used herein, refers to immunoglobulin molecules andimmunologically active portions of immunoglobulin molecules, i.e.,molecules that contain an antigen binding site that immunospecificallybinds an antigen. The immunoglobulin molecules of the invention can beof any type (e.g., IgG, IgE, IgM, IgD, IgA and IgY), class (e.g., IgG1,IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA1 and IgA2) or subclass of immunoglobulin molecule.In preferred embodiments, the immunoglobulin molecules of the inventionare IgG 1. In other preferred embodiments, the immunoglobulin moleculesof the invention are IgG4.

[0271] Most preferably the antibodies are human antigen-binding antibodyfragments of the present invention and include, but are not limited to,Fab, Fab′ and F(ab′)2, Fd, single-chain Fvs (scFv), single-chainantibodies, disulfide-linked Fvs (sdFv) and fragments comprising eithera VL or VH domain. Antigen-binding antibody fragments, includingsingle-chain antibodies, may comprise the variable region(s) alone or incombination with the entirety or a portion of the following: hingeregion, CH1, CH2, and CH3 domains. Also included in the invention areantigen-binding fragments also comprising any combination of variableregion(s) with a hinge region, CH1, CH2, and CH3 domains. The antibodiesof the invention may be from any animal origin including birds andmammals. Preferably, the antibodies are human, murine (e.g., mouse andrat), donkey, ship rabbit, goat, guinea pig, camel, horse, or chicken.As used herein, “human” antibodies include antibodies having the aminoacid sequence of a human immunoglobulin and include antibodies isolatedfrom human immunoglobulin libraries or from animals transgenic for oneor more human immunoglobulin and that do not express endogenousimmunoglobulins, as described infra and, for example in, U.S. Pat. No.5,939,598 by Kucherlapati et al.

[0272] The antibodies of the present invention may be monospecific,bispecific, trispecific or of greater multispecificity. Multispecificantibodies may be specific for different epitopes of a polypeptide ofthe present invention or may be specific for both a polypeptide of thepresent invention as well as for a heterologous epitope, such as aheterologous polypeptide or solid support material. See, e.g., PCTpublications WO 93/17715; WO 92/08802; WO 91/00360; WO 92/05793; Tutt,et al., J. Immunol. 147:60-69 (1991); U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,474,893;4,714,681; 4,925,648; 5,573,920; 5,601,819; Kostelny et al., J. Immunol.148:1547-1553 (1992).

[0273] Antibodies of the present invention may be described or specifiedin terms of the epitope(s) or portion(s) of a polypeptide of the presentinvention which they recognize or specifically bind. The epitope(s) orpolypeptide portion(s) may be specified as described herein, e.g., byN-terminal and C-terminal positions, by size in contiguous amino acidresidues, or listed in the Tables and Figures. Antibodies whichspecifically bind any epitope or polypeptide of the present inventionmay also be excluded. Therefore, the present invention includesantibodies that specifically bind polypeptides of the present invention,and allows for the exclusion of the same.

[0274] Antibodies of the present invention may also be described orspecified in terms of their cross-reactivity. Antibodies that do notbind any other analog, ortholog, or homolog of a polypeptide of thepresent invention are included. Antibodies that bind polypeptides withat least 95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, atleast 70%, at least 65%, at least 60%, at least 55%, and at least 50%identity (as calculated using methods known in the art and describedherein) to a polypeptide of the present invention are also included inthe present invention. In specific embodiments, antibodies of thepresent invention cross-react with murine, rat and/or rabbit homologs ofhuman proteins and the corresponding epitopes thereof. Antibodies thatdo not bind polypeptides with less than 95%, less than 90%, less than85%, less than 80%, less than 75%, less than 70%, less than 65%, lessthan 60%, less than 55%, and less than 50% identity (as calculated usingmethods known in the art and described herein) to a polypeptide of thepresent invention are also included in the present invention. In aspecific embodiment, the above-described cross-reactivity is withrespect to any single specific antigenic or immunogenic polypeptide, orcombination(s) of 2, 3, 4, 5, or more of the specific antigenic and/orimmunogenic polypeptides disclosed herein. Further included in thepresent invention are antibodies which bind polypeptides encoded bypolynucleotides which hybridize to a polynucleotide of the presentinvention under stringent hybridization conditions (as describedherein). Antibodies of the present invention may also be described orspecified in terms of their binding affinity to a polypeptide of theinvention. Preferred binding affinities include those with adissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10⁻² M, 10⁻² M, 5×10⁻³ M, 10⁻³M, 5×10 ⁻⁴ M, 10⁻⁴ M, 5×10⁻⁵ M, 10⁻⁵ M, 5×10⁻⁶ M, 10⁻⁶M, 5×10⁻⁷ M, 10⁷M, 5×10⁻⁸ M, 10⁻⁸ M, 5×10⁻⁹ M, 10⁻⁹ M, 5×10⁻¹⁰ M, 10⁻¹⁰ M, 5×10⁻¹¹ M,10⁻¹¹ M, 5×10⁻¹² M, ¹⁰⁻¹²M, 5×10⁻¹³ M, 10⁻¹³ M, 5×10⁻¹⁴ M, 10⁻¹⁴ M,5×10⁻¹⁵ M, or 10⁻¹⁵ M.

[0275] The invention also provides antibodies that competitively inhibitbinding of an antibody to an epitope of the invention as determined byany method known in the art for determining competitive binding, forexample, the immunoassays described herein. In preferred embodiments,the antibody competitively inhibits binding to the epitope by at least95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, at least70%, at least 60%, or at least 50%.

[0276] Antibodies of the present invention may act as agonists orantagonists of the polypeptides of the present invention. For example,the present invention includes antibodies which disrupt thereceptor/ligand interactions with the polypeptides of the inventioneither partially or fully. Preferrably, antibodies of the presentinvention bind an antigenic epitope disclosed herein, or a portionthereof. The invention features both receptor-specific antibodies andligand-specific antibodies. The invention also featuresreceptor-specific antibodies which do not prevent ligand binding butprevent receptor activation. Receptor activation (i.e., signaling) maybe determined by techniques described herein or otherwise known in theart. For example, receptor activation can be determined by detecting thephosphorylation (e.g., tyrosine or serine/threonine) of the receptor orits substrate by immunoprecipitation followed by western blot analysis(for example, as described supra). In specific embodiments, antibodiesare provided that inhibit ligand activity or receptor activity by atleast 95%, at least 90%, at least 85%, at least 80%, at least 75%, atleast 70%, at least 60%, or at least 50% of the activity in absence ofthe antibody.

[0277] The invention also features receptor-specific antibodies whichboth prevent ligand binding and receptor activation as well asantibodies that recognize the receptor-ligand complex, and, preferably,do not specifically recognize the unbound receptor or the unboundligand. Likewise, included in the invention are neutralizing antibodieswhich bind the ligand and prevent binding of the ligand to the receptor,as well as antibodies which bind the ligand, thereby preventing receptoractivation, but do not prevent the ligand from binding the receptor.Further included in the invention are antibodies which activate thereceptor. These antibodies may act as receptor agonists, i.e.,potentiate or activate either all or a subset of the biologicalactivities of the ligand-mediated receptor activation, for example, byinducing dimerization of the receptor. The antibodies may be specifiedas agonists, antagonists or inverse agonists for biological activitiescomprising the specific biological activities of the peptides of theinvention disclosed herein. The above antibody agonists can be madeusing methods known in the art. See, e.g., PCT publication WO 96/40281;U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,097; Deng et al., Blood 92(6):1981-1988 (1998); Chenet al., Cancer Res. 58(16):3668-3678 (1998); Harrop et al., J. Immunol.161(4):1786-1794 (1998); Zhu et al., Cancer Res. 58(15):3209-3214(1998); Yoon et al., J. Immunol. 160(7):3170-3179 (1998); Prat et al.,J. Cell. Sci. 111(Pt2):237-247 (1998); Pitard et al., J. Immunol.Methods 205(2):177-190 (1997); Liautard et al., Cytokine 9(4):233-241(1997); Carlson et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272(17):11295-11301 (1997);Taryman et al., Neuron 14(4):755-762 (1995); Muller et al., Structure6(9):1153-1167 (1998); Bartunek et al., Cytokine 8(1):14-20 (1996)(which are all incorporated by reference herein in their entireties).

[0278] Antibodies of the present invention may be used, for example, butnot limited to, to purify, detect, and target the polypeptides of thepresent invention, including both in vitro and in vivo diagnostic andtherapeutic methods. For example, the antibodies have use inimmunoassays for qualitatively and quantitatively measuring levels ofthe polypeptides of the present invention in biological samples. See,e.g., Harlow et al., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold SpringHarbor Laboratory Press, 2nd ed. 1988) (incorporated by reference hereinin its entirety).

[0279] As discussed in more detail below, the antibodies of the presentinvention may be used either alone or in combination with othercompositions. The antibodies may further be recombinantly fused to aheterologous polypeptide at the N- or C-terminus or chemicallyconjugated (including covalently and non-covalently conjugations) topolypeptides or other compositions. For example, antibodies of thepresent invention may be recombinantly fused or conjugated to moleculesuseful as labels in detection assays and effector molecules such asheterologous polypeptides, drugs, radionuclides, or toxins. See, e.g.,PCT publications WO 92/08495; WO 91/14438; WO 89/12624; U.S. Pat. No.5,314,995; and EP 396,387.

[0280] The antibodies of the invention include derivatives that aremodified, i.e, by the covalent attachment of any type of molecule to theantibody such that covalent attachment does not prevent the antibodyfrom generating an anti-idiotypic response. For example, but not by wayof limitation, the antibody derivatives include antibodies that havebeen modified, e.g., by glycosylation, acetylation, pegylation,phosphylation, amidation, derivatization by known protecting/blockinggroups, proteolytic cleavage, linkage to a cellular ligand or otherprotein, etc. Any of numerous chemical modifications may be carried outby known techniques, including, but not limited to specific chemicalcleavage, acetylation, formylation, metabolic synthesis of tunicamycin,etc. Additionally, the derivative may contain one or more non-classicalamino acids.

[0281] The antibodies of the present invention may be generated by anysuitable method known in the art. Polyclonal antibodies to anantigen-of- interest can be produced by various procedures well known inthe art. For example, a polypeptide of the invention can be administeredto various host animals including, but not limited to, rabbits, mice,rats, etc. to induce the production of sera containing polyclonalantibodies specific for the antigen. Various adjuvants may be used toincrease the immunological response, depending on the host species, andinclude but are not limited to, Freund's (complete and incomplete),mineral gels such as aluminum hydroxide, surface active substances suchas lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions,keyhole limpet hemocyanins, dinitrophenol, and potentially useful humanadjuvants such as BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin) and corynebacteriumparvum. Such adjuvants are also well known in the art.

[0282] Monoclonal antibodies can be prepared using a wide variety oftechniques known in the art including the use of hybridoma, recombinant,and phage display technologies, or a combination thereof. For example,monoclonal antibodies can be produced using hybridoma techniquesincluding those known in the art and taught, for example, in Harlow etal., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, (Cold Spring Harbor LaboratoryPress, 2nd ed. 1988); Hammerling, et al., in: Monoclonal Antibodies andT-Cell Hybridomas 563-681 (Elsevier, N.Y., 1981) (said referencesincorporated by reference in their entireties). The term “monoclonalantibody” as used herein is not limited to antibodies produced throughhybridoma technology. The term “monoclonal antibody” refers to anantibody that is derived from a single clone, including any eukaryotic,prokaryotic, or phage clone, and not the method by which it is produced.

[0283] Methods for producing and screening for specific antibodies usinghybridoma technology are routine and well known in the art and arediscussed in detail in the Examples (e.g., Example 16). In anon-limiting example, mice can be immunized with a polypeptide of theinvention or a cell expressing such peptide. Once an immune response isdetected, e.g., antibodies specific for the antigen are detected in themouse serum, the mouse spleen is harvested and splenocytes isolated. Thesplenocytes are then fused by well known techniques to any suitablemyeloma cells, for example cells from cell line SP20 available from theATCC. Hybridomas are selected and cloned by limited dilution. Thehybridoma clones are then assayed by methods known in the art for cellsthat secrete antibodies capable of binding a polypeptide of theinvention. Ascites fluid, which generally contains high levels ofantibodies, can be generated by immunizing mice with positive hybridomaclones.

[0284] Accordingly, the present invention provides methods of generatingmonoclonal antibodies as well as antibodies produced by the methodcomprising culturing a hybridoma cell secreting an antibody of theinvention wherein, preferably, the hybridoma is generated by fusingsplenocytes isolated from a mouse immunized with an antigen of theinvention with myeloma cells and then screening the hybridomas resultingfrom the fusion for hybridoma clones that secrete an antibody able tobind a polypeptide of the invention.

[0285] Antibody fragments which recognize specific epitopes may begenerated by known techniques. For example, Fab and F(ab′)2 fragments ofthe invention may be produced by proteolytic cleavage of immunoglobulinmolecules, using enzymes such as papain (to produce Fab fragments) orpepsin (to produce F(ab′)2 fragments). F(ab′)2 fragments contain thevariable region, the light chain constant region and the CH1 domain ofthe heavy chain.

[0286] For example, the antibodies of the present invention can also begenerated using various phage display methods known in the art. In phagedisplay methods, functional antibody domains are displayed on thesurface of phage particles which carry the polynucleotide sequencesencoding them. In a particular embodiment, such phage can be utilized todisplay antigen binding domains expressed from a repertoire orcombinatorial antibody library (e.g., human or murine). Phage expressingan antigen binding domain that binds the antigen of interest can beselected or identified with antigen, e.g., using labeled antigen orantigen bound or captured to a solid surface or bead. Phage used inthese methods are typically filamentous phage including fd and M13binding domains expressed from phage with Fab, Fv or disulfidestabilized Fv antibody domains recombinantly fused to either the phagegene III or gene VIII protein. Examples of phage display methods thatcan be used to make the antibodies of the present invention includethose disclosed in Brinkman et al., J. Immunol. Methods 182:41-50(1995); Ames et al., J. Immunol. Methods 184:177-186 (1995);Kettleborough et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 24:952-958 (1994); Persic et al.,Gene 187 9-18 (1997); Burton et al., Advances in Immunology 57:191-280(1994); PCT application No. PCT/GB91/01134; PCT publications WO90/02809; WO 91/10737; WO 92/01047; WO 92/18619; WO 93/11236; WO95/15982; WO 95/20401; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,698,426; 5,223,409;5,403,484; 5,580,717; 5,427,908; 5,750,753; 5,821,047; 5,571,698;5,427,908; 5,516,637; 5,780,225; 5,658,727; 5,733,743 and 5,969,108;each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0287] As described in the above references, after phage selection, theantibody coding regions from the phage can be isolated and used togenerate whole antibodies, including human antibodies, or any otherdesired antigen binding fragment, and expressed in any desired host,including mammalian cells, insect cells, plant cells, yeast, andbacteria, e.g., as described in detail below. For example, techniques torecombinantly produce Fab, Fab′ and F(ab′)2 fragments can also beemployed using methods known in the art such as those disclosed in PCTpublication WO 92/22324; Mullinax et al., BioTechniques 12(6):864-869(1992); and Sawai et al., AJRI34:26-34 (1995); and Better et al.,Science 240:1041-1043 (1988) (said references incorporated by referencein their entireties).

[0288] Examples of techniques which can be used to produce single-chainFvs and antibodies include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,946,778and 5,258,498; Huston et al., Methods in Enzymology 203:46-88 (1991);Shu et al., PNAS 90:7995-7999 (1993); and Skerra et al., Science240:1038-1040 (1988). For some uses, including in vivo use of antibodiesin humans and in vitro detection assays, it may be preferable to usechimeric, humanized, or human antibodies. A chimeric antibody is amolecule in which different portions of the antibody are derived fromdifferent animal species, such as antibodies having a variable regionderived from a murine monoclonal antibody and a human immunoglobulinconstant region. Methods for producing chimeric antibodies are known inthe art. See e.g., Morrison, Science 229:1202 (1985); Oi et al.,BioTechniques 4:214 (1986); Gillies et al., (1989) J. Immunol. Methods125:191-202; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,807,715; 4,816,567; and 4,816397, whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Humanizedantibodies are antibody molecules from non-human species antibody thatbinds the desired antigen having one or more complementarity determiningregions (CDRs) from the non-human species and a framework regions from ahuman immunoglobulin molecule. Often, framework residues in the humanframework regions will be substituted with the corresponding residuefrom the CDR donor antibody to alter, preferably improve, antigenbinding. These framework substitutions are identified by methods wellknown in the art, e.g., by modeling of the interactions of the CDR andframework residues to identify framework residues important for antigenbinding and sequence comparison to identify unusual framework residuesat particular positions. (See, e.g., Queen et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,585,089; Riechmann et al., Nature 332:323 (1988), which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.) Antibodies can behumanized using a variety of techniques known in the art including, forexample, CDR-grafting (EP 239,400; PCT publication WO 91/09967; U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,225,539; 5,530,101; and 5,585,089), veneering or resurfacing(EP 592,106; EP 519,596; Padlan, Molecular Immunology 28(4/5):489-498(1991); Studnicka et al., Protein Engineering 7(6):805-814 (1994);Roguska. et al., PNAS 91:969-973 (1994)), and chain shuffling (U.S. Pat.No. 5,565,332).

[0289] Completely human antibodies are particularly desirable fortherapeutic treatment of human patients. Human antibodies can be made bya variety of methods known in the art including phage display methodsdescribed above using antibody libraries derived from humanimmunoglobulin sequences. See also, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,444,887 and4,716,111; and PCT publications WO 98/46645, WO 98/50433, WO 98/24893,WO 98/16654, WO 96/34096, WO 96/33735, and WO 91/10741; each of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0290] Human antibodies can also be produced using transgenic mice whichare incapable of expressing functional endogenous immunoglobulins, butwhich can express human immunoglobulin genes. For example, the humanheavy and light chain immunoglobulin gene complexes may be introducedrandomly or by homologous recombination into mouse embryonic stem cells.Alternatively, the human variable region, constant region, and diversityregion may be introduced into mouse embryonic stem cells in addition tothe human heavy and light chain genes. The mouse heavy and light chainimmunoglobulin genes may be rendered non-functional separately orsimultaneously with the introduction of human immunoglobulin loci byhomologous recombination. In particular, homozygous deletion of the JHregion prevents endogenous antibody production. The modified embryonicstem cells are expanded and microinjected into blastocysts to producechimeric mice. The chimeric mice are then bred to produce homozygousoffspring which express human antibodies. The transgenic mice areimmunized in the normal fashion with a selected antigen, e.g., all or aportion of a polypeptide of the invention. Monoclonal antibodiesdirected against the antigen can be obtained from the immunized,transgenic mice using conventional hybridoma technology. The humanimmunoglobulin transgenes harbored by the transgenic mice rearrangeduring B cell differentiation, and subsequently undergo class switchingand somatic mutation. Thus, using such a technique, it is possible toproduce therapeutically useful IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE antibodies. For anoverview of this technology for producing human antibodies, see Lonbergand Huszar, Int. Rev. Immunol. 13:65-93 (1995). For a detaileddiscussion of this technology for producing human antibodies and humanmonoclonal antibodies and protocols for producing such antibodies, see,e.g., PCT publications WO 98/24893; WO 92/01047; WO 96/34096; WO96/33735; European Patent No. 0 598 877; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,413,923;5,625,126; 5,633,425; 5,569,825; 5,661,016; 5,545,806; 5,814,318;5,885,793; 5,916,771; and 5,939,598, which are incorporated by referenceherein in their entirety. In addition, companies such as Abgenix, Inc.(Freemont, Calif.) and Genpharm (San Jose, Calif.) can be engaged toprovide human antibodies directed against a selected antigen usingtechnology similar to that described above.

[0291] Completely human antibodies which recognize a selected epitopecan be generated using a technique referred to as “guided selection.” Inthis approach a selected non-human monoclonal antibody, e.g., a mouseantibody, is used to guide the selection of a completely human antibodyrecognizing the same epitope. (Jespers et al., Bio/technology 12:899-903(1988)).

[0292] Further, antibodies to the polypeptides of the invention can, inturn, be utilized to generate anti-idiotype antibodies that “mimic”polypeptides of the invention using techniques well known to thoseskilled in the art. (See, e.g., Greenspan & Bona, FASEB J. 7(5):437-444;(1989) and Nissinoff, J. Immunol. 147(8):2429-2438 (1991)). For example,antibodies which bind to and competitively inhibit polypeptidemultimerization and/or binding of a polypeptide of the invention to aligand can be used to generate anti-idiotypes that “mimic” thepolypeptide multimerization and/or binding domain and, as a consequence,bind to and neutralize polypeptide and/or its ligand. Such neutralizinganti-idiotypes or Fab fragments of such anti-idiotypes can be used intherapeutic regimens to neutralize polypeptide ligand. For example, suchanti-idiotypic antibodies can be used to bind a polypeptide of theinvention and/or to bind its ligands/receptors, and thereby block itsbiological activity.

[0293] Polynucleotides Encoding Antibodies

[0294] The invention further provides polynucleotides comprising anucleotide sequence encoding an antibody of the invention and fragmentsthereof. The invention also encompasses polynucleotides that hybridizeunder stringent or lower stringency hybridization conditions, e.g., asdefined supra, to polynucleotides that encode an antibody, preferably,that specifically binds to a polypeptide of the invention, preferably,an antibody that binds to a polypeptide having the amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO:Y.

[0295] The polynucleotides may be obtained, and the nucleotide sequenceof the polynucleotides determined, by any method known in the art. Forexample, if the nucleotide sequence of the antibody is known, apolynucleotide encoding the antibody may be assembled from chemicallysynthesized oligonucleotides (e.g., as described in Kutmeier et al.,BioTechniques 17:242 (1994)), which, briefly, involves the synthesis ofoverlapping oligonucleotides containing portions of the sequenceencoding the antibody, annealing and ligating of those oligonucleotides,and then amplification of the ligated oligonucleotides by PCR.

[0296] Alternatively, a polynucleotide encoding an antibody may begenerated from nucleic acid from a suitable source. If a clonecontaining a nucleic acid encoding a particular antibody is notavailable, but the sequence of the antibody molecule is known, a nucleicacid encoding the immunoglobulin may be chemically synthesized orobtained from a suitable source (e.g., an antibody cDNA library, or acDNA library generated from, or nucleic acid, preferably poly A+ RNA,isolated from, any tissue or cells expressing the antibody, such ashybridoma cells selected to express an antibody of the invention) by PCRamplification using synthetic primers hybridizable to the 3′ and 5′ endsof the sequence or by cloning using an oligonucleotide probe specificfor the particular gene sequence to identify, e.g., a cDNA clone from acDNA library that encodes the antibody. Amplified nucleic acidsgenerated by PCR may then be cloned into replicable cloning vectorsusing any method well known in the art.

[0297] Once the nucleotide sequence and corresponding amino acidsequence of the antibody is determined, the nucleotide sequence of theantibody may be manipulated using methods well known in the art for themanipulation of nucleotide sequences, e.g., recombinant DNA techniques,site directed mutagenesis, PCR, etc. (see, for example, the techniquesdescribed in Sambrook et al., 1990, Molecular Cloning, A LaboratoryManual, 2d Ed., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.and Ausubel et al., eds., 1998, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology,John Wiley & Sons, NY, which are both incorporated by reference hereinin their entireties), to generate antibodies having a different aminoacid sequence, for example to create amino acid substitutions,deletions, and/or insertions.

[0298] In a specific embodiment, the amino acid sequence of the heavyand/or light chain variable domains may be inspected to identify thesequences of the complementarity determining regions (CDRs) by methodsthat are well know in the art, e.g., by comparison to known amino acidsequences of other heavy and light chain variable regions to determinethe regions of sequence hypervariability. Using routine recombinant DNAtechniques, one or more of the CDRs may be inserted within frameworkregions, e.g., into human framework regions to humanize a non-humanantibody, as described supra. The framework regions may be naturallyoccurring or consensus framework regions, and preferably human frameworkregions (see, e.g., Chothia et al., J. Mol. Biol. 278: 457-479 (1998)for a listing of human framework regions). Preferably, thepolynucleotide generated by the combination of the framework regions andCDRs encodes an antibody that specifically binds a polypeptide of theinvention. Preferably, as discussed supra, one or more amino acidsubstitutions may be made within the framework regions, and, preferably,the amino acid substitutions improve binding of the antibody to itsantigen. Additionally, such methods may be used to make amino acidsubstitutions or deletions of one or more variable region cysteineresidues participating in an intrachain disulfide bond to generateantibody molecules lacking one or more intrachain disulfide bonds. Otheralterations to the polynucleotide are encompassed by the presentinvention and within the skill of the art.

[0299] In addition, techniques developed for the production of “chimericantibodies” (Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 81:851-855 (1984);Neuberger et al., Nature 312:604-608 (1984); Takeda et al., Nature314:452-454 (1985)) by splicing genes from a mouse antibody molecule ofappropriate antigen specificity together with genes from a humanantibody molecule of appropriate biological activity can be used. Asdescribed supra, a chimeric antibody is a molecule in which differentportions are derived from different animal species, such as those havinga variable region derived from a murine mAB and a human immunoglobulinconstant region, e.g., humanized antibodies.

[0300] Alternatively, techniques described for the production of singlechain antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778; Bird, Science 242:423-42(1988); Huston et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:5879-5883 (1988);and Ward et al., Nature 334:544-54 (1989)) can be adapted to producesingle chain antibodies. Single chain antibodies are formed by linkingthe heavy and light chain fragments of the Fv region via an amino acidbridge, resulting in a single chain polypeptide. Techniques for theassembly of functional Fv fragments in E. coli may also be used (Skerraet al., Science 242:1038-1041 (1988)).

[0301] Methods of Producing Antibodies

[0302] The antibodies of the invention can be produced by any methodknown in the art for the synthesis of antibodies, in particular, bychemical synthesis or preferably, by recombinant expression techniques.

[0303] Recombinant expression of an antibody of the invention, orfragment, derivative or analog thereof, (e.g., a heavy or light chain ofan antibody of the invention or a single chain antibody of theinvention), requires construction of an expression vector containing apolynucleotide that encodes the antibody. Once a polynucleotide encodingan antibody molecule or a heavy or light chain of an antibody, orportion thereof (preferably containing the heavy or light chain variabledomain), of the invention has been obtained, the vector for theproduction of the antibody molecule may be produced by recombinant DNAtechnology using techniques well known in the art. Thus, methods forpreparing a protein by expressing a polynucleotide containing anantibody encoding nucleotide sequence are described herein. Methodswhich are well known to those skilled in the art can be used toconstruct expression vectors containing antibody coding sequences andappropriate transcriptional and translational control signals. Thesemethods include, for example, in vitro recombinant DNA techniques,synthetic techniques, and in vivo genetic recombination. The invention,thus, provides replicable vectors comprising a nucleotide sequenceencoding an antibody molecule of the invention, or a heavy or lightchain thereof, or a heavy or light chain variable domain, operablylinked to a promoter. Such vectors may include the nucleotide sequenceencoding the constant region of the antibody molecule (see, e.g., PCTPublication WO 86/05807; PCT Publication WO 89/01036; and U.S. Pat. No.5,122,464) and the variable domain of the antibody may be cloned intosuch a vector for expression of the entire heavy or light chain.

[0304] The expression vector is transferred to a host cell byconventional techniques and the transfected cells are then cultured byconventional techniques to produce an antibody of the invention. Thus,the invention includes host cells containing a polynucleotide encodingan antibody of the invention, or a heavy or light chain thereof, or asingle chain antibody of the invention, operably linked to aheterologous promoter. In preferred embodiments for the expression ofdouble-chained antibodies, vectors encoding both the heavy and lightchains may be co-expressed in the host cell for expression of the entireimmunoglobulin molecule, as detailed below.

[0305] A variety of host-expression vector systems may be utilized toexpress the antibody molecules of the invention. Such host-expressionsystems represent vehicles by which the coding sequences of interest maybe produced and subsequently purified, but also represent cells whichmay, when transformed or transfected with the appropriate nucleotidecoding sequences, express an antibody molecule of the invention in situ.These include but are not limited to microorganisms such as bacteria(e.g., E. coli, B. subtilis) transformed with recombinant bacteriophageDNA, plasmid DNA or cosmid DNA expression vectors containing antibodycoding sequences; yeast (e.g., Saccharomyces, Pichia) transformed withrecombinant yeast expression vectors containing antibody codingsequences; insect cell systems infected with recombinant virusexpression vectors (e.g., baculovirus) containing antibody codingsequences; plant cell systems infected with recombinant virus expressionvectors (e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus, CaMV; tobacco mosaic virus,TMV) or transformed with recombinant plasmid expression vectors (e.g.,Ti plasmid) containing antibody coding sequences; or mammalian cellsystems (e.g., COS, CHO, BHK, 293, 3T3 cells) harboring recombinantexpression constructs containing promoters derived from the genome ofmammalian cells (e.g., metallothionein promoter) or from mammalianviruses (e.g., the adenovirus late promoter; the vaccinia virus 7.5Kpromoter). Preferably, bacterial cells such as Escherichia coli, andmore preferably, eukaryotic cells, especially for the expression ofwhole recombinant antibody molecule, are used for the expression of arecombinant antibody molecule. For example, mammalian cells such asChinese hamster ovary cells (CHO), in conjunction with a vector such asthe major intermediate early gene promoter element from humancytomegalovirus is an effective expression system for antibodies(Foecking et al., Gene 45:101 (1986); Cockett et al., Bio/Technology 8:2(1990)).

[0306] In bacterial systems, a number of expression vectors may beadvantageously selected depending upon the use intended for the antibodymolecule being expressed. For example, when a large quantity of such aprotein is to be produced, for the generation of pharmaceuticalcompositions of an antibody molecule, vectors which direct theexpression of high levels of fusion protein products that are readilypurified may be desirable. Such vectors include, but are not limited, tothe E. coli expression vector pUR278 (Ruther et al., EMBO J. 2:1791(1983)), in which the antibody coding sequence may be ligatedindividually into the vector in frame with the lac Z coding region sothat a fusion protein is produced; pIN vectors (Inouye & Inouye, NucleicAcids Res. 13:3101-3109 (1985); Van Heeke & Schuster, J. Biol. Chem.24:5503-5509 (1989)); and the like. pGEX vectors may also be used toexpress foreign polypeptides as fusion proteins with glutathioneS-transferase (GST). In general, such fusion proteins are soluble andcan easily be purified from lysed cells by adsorption and binding tomatrix glutathione-agarose beads followed by elution in the presence offree glutathione. The pGEX vectors are designed to include thrombin orfactor Xa protease cleavage sites so that the cloned target gene productcan be released from the GST moiety.

[0307] In an insect system, Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosisvirus (AcNPV) is used as a vector to express foreign genes. The virusgrows in Spodoptera frugiperda cells. The antibody coding sequence maybe cloned individually into non-essential regions (for example thepolyhedrin gene) of the virus and placed under control of an AcNPVpromoter (for example the polyhedrin promoter).

[0308] In mammalian host cells, a number of viral-based expressionsystems may be utilized. In cases where an adenovirus is used as anexpression vector, the antibody coding sequence of interest may beligated to an adenovirus transcription/translation control complex,e.g., the late promoter and tripartite leader sequence. This chimericgene may then be inserted in the adenovirus genome by in vitro or invivo recombination. Insertion in a non-essential region of the viralgenome (e.g., region E1 or E3) will result in a recombinant virus thatis viable and capable of expressing the antibody molecule in infectedhosts. (e.g., see Logan & Shenk, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:355-359(1984)). Specific initiation signals may also be required for efficienttranslation of inserted antibody coding sequences. These signals includethe ATG initiation codon and adjacent sequences. Furthermore, theinitiation codon must be in phase with the reading frame of the desiredcoding sequence to ensure translation of the entire insert. Theseexogenous translational control signals and initiation codons can be ofa variety of origins, both natural and synthetic. The efficiency ofexpression may be enhanced by the inclusion of appropriate transcriptionenhancer elements, transcription terminators, etc. (see Bittner et al.,Methods in Enzymol. 153:51-544 (1987)).

[0309] In addition, a host cell strain may be chosen which modulates theexpression of the inserted sequences, or modifies and processes the geneproduct in the specific fashion desired. Such modifications (e.g.,glycosylation) and processing (e.g., cleavage) of protein products maybe important for the function of the protein. Different host cells havecharacteristic and specific mechanisms for the post-translationalprocessing and modification of proteins and gene products. Appropriatecell lines or host systems can be chosen to ensure the correctmodification and processing of the foreign protein expressed. To thisend, eukaryotic host cells which possess the cellular machinery forproper processing of the primary transcript, glycosylation, andphosphorylation of the gene product may be used. Such mammalian hostcells include but are not limited to CHO, VERY, BHK, Hela, COS, MDCK,293, 3T3, W138, and in particular, breast cancer cell lines such as, forexample, BT483, Hs578T, HTB2, BT20 and T47D, and normal mammary glandcell line such as, for example, CRL7030 and Hs578Bst.

[0310] For long-term, high-yield production of recombinant proteins,stable expression is preferred. For example, cell lines which stablyexpress the antibody molecule may be engineered. Rather than usingexpression vectors which contain viral origins of replication, hostcells can be transformed with DNA controlled by appropriate expressioncontrol elements (e.g., promoter, enhancer, sequences, transcriptionterminators, polyadenylation sites, etc.), and a selectable marker.Following the introduction of the foreign DNA, engineered cells may beallowed to grow for 1-2 days in an enriched media, and then are switchedto a selective media. The selectable marker in the recombinant plasmidconfers resistance to the selection and allows cells to stably integratethe plasmid into their chromosomes and grow to form foci which in turncan be cloned and expanded into cell lines. This method mayadvantageously be used to engineer cell lines which express the antibodymolecule. Such engineered cell lines may be particularly useful inscreening and evaluation of compounds that interact directly orindirectly with the antibody molecule.

[0311] A number of selection systems may be used, including but notlimited to the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (Wigler et al.,Cell 11:223 (1977)), hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase(Szybalska & Szybalski, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 48:202 (1992)), andadenine phosphoribosyltransferase (Lowy et al., Cell 22:817 (1980))genes can be employed in tk-, hgprt- or aprt- cells, respectively. Also,antimetabolite resistance can be used as the basis of selection for thefollowing genes: dhfr, which confers resistance to methotrexate (Wigleret al., Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:357 (1980); O'Hare et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 78:1527 (1981)); gpt, which confers resistance tomycophenolic acid (Mulligan & Berg, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78:2072(1981)); neo, which confers resistance to the aminoglycoside G-418Clinical Pharmacy 12:488-505; Wu and Wu, Biotherapy 3:87-95 (1991);Tolstoshev, Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 32:573-596 (1993); Mulligan,Science 260:926-932 (1993); and Morgan and Anderson, Ann. Rev. Biochem.62:191-217 (1993); May, 1993, TIB TECH 11(5):155-215); and hygro, whichconfers resistance to hygromycin (Santerre et al., Gene 30:147 (1984)).Methods commonly known in the art of recombinant DNA technology may beroutinely applied to select the desired recombinant clone, and suchmethods are described, for example, in Ausubel et al. (eds.), CurrentProtocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY (1993); Kriegler,Gene Transfer and Expression, A Laboratory Manual, Stockton Press, NY(1990); and in Chapters 12 and 13, Dracopoli et al. (eds), CurrentProtocols in Human Genetics, John Wiley & Sons, NY (1994);Colberre-Garapin et al., J. Mol. Biol. 150:1 (1981), which areincorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

[0312] The expression levels of an antibody molecule can be increased byvector amplification (for a review, see Bebbington and Hentschel, Theuse of vectors based on gene amplification for the expression of clonedgenes in mammalian cells in DNA cloning, Vol.3. (Academic Press, NewYork, 1987)). When a marker in the vector system expressing antibody isamplifiable, increase in the level of inhibitor present in culture ofhost cell will increase the number of copies of the marker gene. Sincethe amplified region is associated with the antibody gene, production ofthe antibody will also increase (Crouse et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 3:257(1983)).

[0313] The host cell may be co-transfected with two expression vectorsof the invention, the first vector encoding a heavy chain derivedpolypeptide and the second vector encoding a light chain derivedpolypeptide. The two vectors may contain identical selectable markerswhich enable equal expression of heavy and light chain polypeptides.Alternatively, a single vector may be used which encodes, and is capableof expressing, both heavy and light chain polypeptides. In suchsituations, the light chain should be placed before the heavy chain toavoid an excess of toxic free heavy chain (Proudfoot, Nature 322:52(1986); Kohler, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77:2197 (1980)). The codingsequences for the heavy and light chains may comprise cDNA or genomicDNA.

[0314] Once an antibody molecule of the invention has been produced byan animal, chemically synthesized, or recombinantly expressed, it may bepurified by any method known in the art for purification of animmunoglobulin molecule, for example, by chromatography (e.g., ionexchange, affinity, particularly by affinity for the specific antigenafter Protein A, and sizing column chromatography), centrifugation,differential solubility, or by any other standard technique for thepurification of proteins. In addition, the antibodies of the presentinvention or fragments thereof can be fused to heterologous polypeptidesequences described herein or otherwise known in the art, to facilitatepurification.

[0315] The present invention encompasses antibodies recombinantly fusedor chemically conjugated (including both covalently and non-covalentlyconjugations) to a polypeptide (or portion thereof, preferably at least10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 amino acids of thepolypeptide) of the present invention to generate fusion proteins. Thefusion does not necessarily need to be direct, but may occur throughlinker sequences. The antibodies may be specific for antigens other thanpolypeptides (or portion thereof, preferably at least 10, 20, 30, 40,50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 amino acids of the polypeptide) of the presentinvention. For example, antibodies may be used to target thepolypeptides of the present invention to particular cell types, eitherin vitro or in vivo, by fusing or conjugating the polypeptides of thepresent invention to antibodies specific for particular cell surfacereceptors. Antibodies fused or conjugated to the polypeptides of thepresent invention may also be used in in vitro immunoassays andpurification methods using methods known in the art. See e.g., Harbor etal., supra, and PCT publication WO 93/21232; EP 439,095; Naramura etal., Immunol. Lett. 39:91-99 (1994); U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,981; Gillies etal., PNAS 89:1428-1432 (1992); Fell et al., J. Immunol.146:2446-2452(1991), which are incorporated by reference in theirentireties.

[0316] The present invention further includes compositions comprisingthe polypeptides of the present invention fused or conjugated toantibody domains other than the variable regions. For example, thepolypeptides of the present invention may be fused or conjugated to anantibody Fc region, or portion thereof. The antibody portion fused to apolypeptide of the present invention may comprise the constant region,hinge region, CH1 domain, CH2 domain, and CH3 domain or any combinationof whole domains or portions thereof. The polypeptides may also be fusedor conjugated to the above antibody portions to form multimers. Forexample, Fc portions fused to the polypeptides of the present inventioncan form dimers through disulfide bonding between the Fc portions.Higher multimeric forms can be made by fusing the polypeptides toportions of IgA and IgM. Methods for fusing or conjugating thepolypeptides of the present invention to antibody portions are known inthe art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,336,603; 5,622,929; 5,359,046;5,349,053; 5,447,851; 5,112,946; EP 307,434; EP 367,166; PCTpublications WO 96/04388; WO 91/06570; Ashkenazi et al., Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 88:10535-10539 (1991); Zheng et al., J. Immunol.154:5590-5600 (1995); and Vil et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA89:11337-11341(1992) (said references incorporated by reference in theirentireties).

[0317] As discussed, supra, the polypeptides corresponding to apolypeptide, polypeptide fragment, or a variant of SEQ ID NO:Y may befused or conjugated to the above antibody portions to increase the invivo half life of the polypeptides or for use in immunoassays usingmethods known in the art. Further, the polypeptides corresponding to SEQID NO:Y may be fused or conjugated to the above antibody portions tofacilitate purification. One reported example describes chimericproteins consisting of the first two domains of the humanCD4-polypeptide and various domains of the constant regions of the heavyor light chains of mammalian immunoglobulins. (EP 394,827; Traunecker etal., Nature 331:84-86 (1988). The polypeptides of the present inventionfused or conjugated to an antibody having disulfide- linked dimericstructures (due to the IgG) may also be more efficient in binding andneutralizing other molecules, than the monomeric secreted protein orprotein fragment alone. (Fountoulakis et al., J. Biochem. 270:3958-3964(1995)). In many cases, the Fc part in a fusion protein is beneficial intherapy and diagnosis, and thus can result in, for example, improvedpharmacokinetic properties. (EP A 232,262). Alternatively, deleting theFc part after the fusion protein has been expressed, detected, andpurified, would be desired. For example, the Fc portion may hindertherapy and diagnosis if the fusion protein is used as an antigen forimmunizations. In drug discovery, for example, human proteins, such ashIL-5, have been fused with Fc portions for the purpose ofhigh-throughput screening assays to identify antagonists of hIL-5. (See,Bennett et al., J. Molecular Recognition 8:52-58 (1995); Johanson etal., J. Biol. Chem. 270:9459-9471 (1995).

[0318] Moreover, the antibodies or fragments thereof of the presentinvention can be fused to marker sequences, such as a peptide tofacilitate purification. In preferred embodiments, the marker amino acidsequence is a hexa-histidine peptide, such as the tag provided in a pQEvector (QIAGEN, Inc., 9259 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, Calif., 91311),among others, many of which are commercially available. As described inGentz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:821-824 (1989), forinstance, hexa-histidine provides for convenient purification of thefusion protein. Other peptide tags useful for purification include, butare not limited to, the “HA” tag, which corresponds to an epitopederived from the influenza hemagglutinin protein (Wilson et al., Cell37:767 (1984)) and the “flag” tag.

[0319] The present invention further encompasses antibodies or fragmentsthereof conjugated to a diagnostic or therapeutic agent. The antibodiescan be used diagnostically to, for example, monitor the development orprogression of a tumor as part of a clinical testing procedure to, e.g.,determine the efficacy of a given treatment regimen. Detection can befacilitated by coupling the antibody to a detectable substance. Examplesof detectable substances include various enzymes, prosthetic groups,fluorescent materials, luminescent materials, bioluminescent materials,radioactive materials, positron emitting metals using various positronemission tomographies, and nonradioactive paramagnetic metal ions. Thedetectable substance may be coupled or conjugated either directly to theantibody (or fragment thereof) or indirectly, through an intermediate(such as, for example, a linker known in the art) using techniques knownin the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,900 for metal ionswhich can be conjugated to antibodies for use as diagnostics accordingto the present invention. Examples of suitable enzymes includehorseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, oracetylcholinesterase; examples of suitable prosthetic group complexesinclude streptavidin/biotin and avidin/biotin; examples of suitablefluorescent materials include umbelliferone, fluorescein, fluoresceinisothiocyanate, rhodamine, dichlorotriazinylamine fluorescein, dansylchloride or phycoerythrin; an example of a luminescent material includesluminol; examples of bioluminescent materials include luciferase,luciferin, and aequorin; and examples of suitable radioactive materialinclude 125I, 131I, 111In or 99Tc.

[0320] Further, an antibody or fragment thereof may be conjugated to atherapeutic moiety such as a cytotoxin, e.g., a cytostatic or cytocidalagent, a therapeutic agent or a radioactive metal ion, e.g.,alpha-emitters such as, for example, 213Bi. A cytotoxin or cytotoxicagent includes any agent that is detrimental to cells. Examples includepaclitaxol, cytochalasin B, gramicidin D, ethidium bromide, emetine,mitomycin, etoposide, tenoposide, vincristine, vinblastine, colchicin,doxorubicin, daunorubicin, dihydroxy anthracin dione, mitoxantrone,mithramycin, actinomycin D, 1-dehydrotestosterone, glucocorticoids,procaine, tetracaine, lidocaine, propranolol, and puromycin and analogsor homologs thereof. Therapeutic agents include, but are not limited to,antimetabolites (e.g., methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine,cytarabine, 5-fluorouracil decarbazine), alkylating agents (e.g.,mechlorethamine, thioepa chlorambucil, melphalan, carmustine (BSNU) andlomustine (CCNU), cyclothosphamide, busulfan, dibromomannitol,streptozotocin, mitomycin C, and cis-dichlorodiamine platinum (II) (DDP)cisplatin), anthracyclines (e.g., daunorubicin (formerly daunomycin) anddoxorubicin), antibiotics (e.g., dactinomycin (formerly actinomycin),bleomycin, mithramycin, and anthramycin (AMC)), and anti-mitotic agents(e.g., vincristine and vinblastine).

[0321] The conjugates of the invention can be used for modifying a givenbiological response, the therapeutic agent or drug moiety is not to beconstrued as limited to classical chemical therapeutic agents. Forexample, the drug moiety may be a protein or polypeptide possessing adesired biological activity. Such proteins may include, for example, atoxin such as abrin, ricin A, pseudomonas exotoxin, or diphtheria toxin;a protein such as tumor necrosis factor, a-interferon, β-interferon,nerve growth factor, platelet derived growth factor, tissue plasminogenactivator, an apoptotic agent, e.g., TNF-alpha, TNF-beta, AIM I (See,International Publication No. WO 97/33899), AIM II (See, InternationalPublication No. WO 97/34911), Fas Ligand (Takahashi et al., Int.Immunol., 6:1567-1574 (1994)), VEGI (See, International Publication No.WO 99/23105), a thrombotic agent or an anti- angiogenic agent, e.g.,angiostatin or endostatin; or, biological response modifiers such as,for example, lymphokines, interleukin-1 (“IL-1”), interleukin-2(“IL-2”), interleukin-6 (“IL-6”), granulocyte macrophage colonystimulating factor (“GM-CSF”), granulocyte colony stimulating factor(“G-CSF”), or other growth factors.

[0322] Antibodies may also be attached to solid supports, which areparticularly useful for immunoassays or purification of the targetantigen. Such solid supports include, but are not limited to, glass,cellulose, polyacrylamide, nylon, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride orpolypropylene.

[0323] Techniques for conjugating such therapeutic moiety to antibodiesare well known, see, e.g., Arnon et al., “Monoclonal Antibodies ForImmunotargeting Of Drugs In Cancer Therapy”, in Monoclonal AntibodiesAnd Cancer Therapy, Reisfeld et al. (eds.), pp. 243-56 (Alan R. Liss,Inc. 1985); Hellstrom et al., “Antibodies For Drug Delivery”, inControlled Drug Delivery (2nd Ed.), Robinson et al. (eds.), pp. 623-53(Marcel Dekker, Inc. 1987); Thorpe, “Antibody Carriers Of CytotoxicAgents In Cancer Therapy: A Review”, in Monoclonal Antibodies '84:Biological And Clinical Applications, Pinchera et al. (eds.), pp.475-506 (1985); “Analysis, Results, And Future Prospective Of TheTherapeutic Use Of Radiolabeled Antibody In Cancer Therapy”, inMonoclonal Antibodies For Cancer Detection And Therapy, Baldwin et al.(eds.), pp. 303-16 (Academic Press 1985), and Thorpe et al., “ThePreparation And Cytotoxic Properties Of Antibody-Toxin Conjugates”,Immunol. Rev. 62:119-58 (1982).

[0324] Alternatively, an antibody can be conjugated to a second antibodyto form an antibody heteroconjugate as described by Segal in U.S. Pat.No. 4,676,980, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

[0325] An antibody, with or without a therapeutic moiety conjugated toit, administered alone or in combination with cytotoxic factor(s) and/orcytokine(s) can be used as a therapeutic.

[0326] Immunophenotyping

[0327] The antibodies of the invention may be utilized forimmunophenotyping of cell lines and biological samples. The translationproduct of the gene of the present invention may be useful as a cellspecific marker, or more specifically as a cellular marker that isdifferentially expressed at various stages of differentiation and/ormaturation of particular cell types. Monoclonal antibodies directedagainst a specific epitope, or combination of epitopes, will allow forthe screening of cellular populations expressing the marker. Varioustechniques can be utilized using monoclonal antibodies to screen forcellular populations expressing the marker(s), and include magneticseparation using antibody-coated magnetic beads, “panning” with antibodyattached to a solid matrix (i.e., plate), and flow cytometry (See, e.g.,U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,660; and Morrison et al., Cell, 96:737-49 (1999)).

[0328] These techniques allow for the screening of particularpopulations of cells, such as might be found with hematologicalmalignancies (i.e. minimal residual disease (MRD) in acute leukemicpatients) and “non-self” cells in transplantations to preventGraft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD). Alternatively, these techniques allowfor the screening of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells capable ofundergoing proliferation and/or differentiation, as might be found inhuman umbilical cord blood.

[0329] Assays For Antibody Binding

[0330] The antibodies of the invention may be assayed for immunospecificbinding by any method known in the art. The immunoassays which can beused include but are not limited to competitive and non-competitiveassay systems using techniques such as western blots, radioimmunoassays,ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), “sandwich” immunoassays,immunoprecipitation assays, precipitin reactions, gel diffusionprecipitin reactions, immunodiffusion assays, agglutination assays,complement-fixation assays, immunoradiometric assays, fluorescentimmunoassays, protein A immunoassays, to name but a few. Such assays areroutine and well known in the art (see, e.g., Ausubel et al, eds, 1994,Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol. 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,New York, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety).Exemplary immunoassays are described briefly below (but are not intendedby way of limitation).

[0331] Immunoprecipitation protocols generally comprise lysing apopulation of cells in a lysis buffer such as RIPA buffer (1% NP-40 orTriton X-100, 1% sodium deoxycholate, 0.1% SDS, 0.15 M NaCl, 0.01 Msodium phosphate at pH 7.2, 1% Trasylol) supplemented with proteinphosphatase and/or protease inhibitors (e.g., EDTA, PMSF, aprotinin,sodium vanadate), adding the antibody of interest to the cell lysate,incubating for a period of time (e.g., 1-4 hours) at 4° C., addingprotein A and/or protein G sepharose beads to the cell lysate,incubating for about an hour or more at 4° C., washing the beads inlysis buffer and resuspending the beads in SDS/sample buffer. Theability of the antibody of interest to immunoprecipitate a particularantigen can be assessed by, e.g., western blot analysis. One of skill inthe art would be knowledgeable as to the parameters that can be modifiedto increase the binding of the antibody to an antigen and decrease thebackground (e.g., pre-clearing the cell lysate with sepharose beads).For further discussion regarding immunoprecipitation protocols see,e.g., Ausubel et al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology,Vol. 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 10.16.1.

[0332] Western blot analysis generally comprises preparing proteinsamples, electrophoresis of the protein samples in a polyacrylamide gel(e.g., 8%-20% SDS-PAGE depending on the molecular weight of theantigen), transferring the protein sample from the polyacrylamide gel toa membrane such as nitrocellulose, PVDF or nylon, blocking the membranein blocking solution (e.g., PBS with 3% BSA or non-fat milk), washingthe membrane in washing buffer (e.g., PBS-Tween 20), blocking themembrane with primary antibody (the antibody of interest) diluted inblocking buffer, washing the membrane in washing buffer, blocking themembrane with a secondary antibody (which recognizes the primaryantibody, e.g., an anti-human antibody) conjugated to an enzymaticsubstrate (e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase) orradioactive molecule (e.g., 32P or 125I) diluted in blocking buffer,washing the membrane in wash buffer, and detecting the presence of theantigen. One of skill in the art would be knowledgeable as to theparameters that can be modified to increase the signal detected and toreduce the background noise. For further discussion regarding westernblot protocols see, e.g., Ausubel et al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols inMolecular Biology, Vol. 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 10.8.1.

[0333] ELISAs comprise preparing antigen, coating the well of a 96 wellmicrotiter plate with the antigen, adding the antibody of interestconjugated to a detectable compound such as an enzymatic substrate(e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase) to the well andincubating for a period of time, and detecting the presence of theantigen. In ELISAs the antibody of interest does not have to beconjugated to a detectable compound; instead, a second antibody (whichrecognizes the antibody of interest) conjugated to a detectable compoundmay be added to the well. Further, instead of coating the well with theantigen, the antibody may be coated to the well. In this case, a secondantibody conjugated to a detectable compound may be added following theaddition of the antigen of interest to the coated well. One of skill inthe art would be knowledgeable as to the parameters that can be modifiedto increase the signal detected as well as other variations of ELISAsknown in the art. For further discussion regarding ELISAs see, e.g.,Ausubel et al, eds, 1994, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Vol.1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York at 11.2.1.

[0334] The binding affinity of an antibody to an antigen and theoff-rate of an antibody-antigen interaction can be determined bycompetitive binding assays. One example of a competitive binding assayis a radioimmunoassay comprising the incubation of labeled antigen(e.g., 3H or 125I) with the antibody of interest in the presence ofincreasing amounts of unlabeled antigen, and the detection of theantibody bound to the labeled antigen. The affinity of the antibody ofinterest for a particular antigen and the binding off-rates can bedetermined from the data by scatchard plot analysis. Competition with asecond antibody can also be determined using radioimmunoassays. In thiscase, the antigen is incubated with antibody of interest conjugated to alabeled compound (e.g., 3H or 125I) in the presence of increasingamounts of an unlabeled second antibody.

[0335] Therapeutic Uses

[0336] The present invention is further directed to antibody-basedtherapies which involve administering antibodies of the invention to ananimal, preferably a mammal, and most preferably a human, patient fortreating one or more of the disclosed diseases, disorders, orconditions. Therapeutic compounds of the invention include, but are notlimited to, antibodies of the invention (including fragments, analogsand derivatives thereof as described herein) and nucleic acids encodingantibodies of the invention (including fragments, analogs andderivatives thereof and anti-idiotypic antibodies as described herein).The antibodies of the invention can be used to treat, inhibit or preventdiseases, disorders or conditions associated with aberrant expressionand/or activity of a polypeptide of the invention, including, but notlimited to, any one or more of the diseases, disorders, or conditionsdescribed herein. The treatment and/or prevention of diseases,disorders, or conditions associated with aberrant expression and/oractivity of a polypeptide of the invention includes, but is not limitedto, alleviating symptoms associated with those diseases, disorders orconditions. Antibodies of the invention may be provided inpharmaceutically acceptable compositions as known in the art or asdescribed herein.

[0337] A summary of the ways in which the antibodies of the presentinvention may be used therapeutically includes binding polynucleotidesor polypeptides of the present invention locally or systemically in thebody or by direct cytotoxicity of the antibody, e.g. as mediated bycomplement (CDC) or by effector cells (ADCC). Some of these approachesare described in more detail below. Armed with the teachings providedherein, one of ordinary skill in the art will know how to use theantibodies of the present invention for diagnostic, monitoring ortherapeutic purposes without undue experimentation.

[0338] The antibodies of this invention may be advantageously utilizedin combination with other monoclonal or chimeric antibodies, or withlymphokines or hematopoietic growth factors (such as, e.g., IL-2, IL-3and IL-7), for example, which serve to increase the number or activityof effector cells which interact with the antibodies.

[0339] The antibodies of the invention may be administered alone or incombination with other types of treatments (e.g., radiation therapy,chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy and anti-tumor agents).Generally, administration of products of a species origin or speciesreactivity (in the case of antibodies) that is the same species as thatof the patient is preferred. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, humanantibodies, fragments derivatives, analogs, or nucleic acids, areadministered to a human patient for therapy or prophylaxis.

[0340] It is preferred to use high affinity and/or potent in vivoinhibiting and/or neutralizing antibodies against polypeptides orpolynucleotides of the present invention, fragments or regions thereof,for both immunoassays directed to and therapy of disorders related topolynucleotides or polypeptides, including fragments thereof, of thepresent invention. Such antibodies, fragments, or regions, willpreferably have an affinity for polynucleotides or polypeptides of theinvention, including fragments thereof. Preferred binding affinitiesinclude those with a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10⁻² M,10⁻² M, 5×10⁻³ M, 10⁻³ M, 5×10⁻⁴ M, 10⁻⁴ M, 5×10⁻⁵ M, 10⁻⁵ M, 5×10⁻⁶ M,10⁻⁶ M, 5×10⁻⁷ M, 10⁻⁷ M, 5×10⁻⁸ M, 10⁻⁸ M, 5×10⁻⁹ M, 10⁻⁹ M, 5×10⁻¹⁰ M,10⁻¹⁰ M, 5×10⁻¹¹ M, 10⁻¹¹ M, 5×10⁻¹² M, 10⁻¹² M, 5×10⁻¹³ M, 10⁻¹³ M,5×10⁻¹⁴ M, 10⁻¹⁴ M, 5×10⁻¹⁵ M, and 10⁻¹⁵ M.

[0341] Gene Therapy

[0342] In a specific embodiment, nucleic acids comprising sequencesencoding antibodies or functional derivatives thereof, are administeredto treat, inhibit or prevent a disease or disorder associated withaberrant expression and/or activity of a polypeptide of the invention,by way of gene therapy. Gene therapy refers to therapy performed by theadministration to a subject of an expressed or expressible nucleic acid.In this embodiment of the invention, the nucleic acids produce theirencoded protein that mediates a therapeutic effect.

[0343] Any of the methods for gene therapy available in the art can beused according to the present invention. Exemplary methods are describedbelow.

[0344] For general reviews of the methods of gene therapy, see Goldspielet al., Clinical Pharmacy 12:488-505 (1993); Wu and Wu, Biotherapy3:87-95 (1991); Tolstoshev, Ann. Rev. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 32:573-596(1993); Mulligan, Science 260:926-932 (1993); and Morgan and Anderson,Ann. Rev. Biochem. 62:191-217 (1993); May, TIBTECH 11 (5):155-215(1993). Methods commonly known in the art of recombinant DNA technologywhich can be used are described in Ausubel et al. (eds.), CurrentProtocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, NY (1993); andKriegler, Gene Transfer and Expression, A Laboratory Manual, StocktonPress, NY (1990).

[0345] In a preferred aspect, the compound comprises nucleic acidsequences encoding an antibody, said nucleic acid sequences being partof expression vectors that express the antibody or fragments or chimericproteins or heavy or light chains thereof in a suitable host. Inparticular, such nucleic acid sequences have promoters operably linkedto the antibody coding region, said promoter being inducible orconstitutive, and, optionally, tissue- specific. In another particularembodiment, nucleic acid molecules are used in which the antibody codingsequences and any other desired sequences are flanked by regions thatpromote homologous recombination at a desired site in the genome, thusproviding for intrachromosomal expression of the antibody encodingnucleic acids (Koller and Smithies, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA86:8932-8935 (1989); Zijlstra et al., Nature 342:435-438 (1989). Inspecific embodiments, the expressed antibody molecule is a single chainantibody; alternatively, the nucleic acid sequences include sequencesencoding both the heavy and light chains, or fragments thereof, of theantibody.

[0346] Delivery of the nucleic acids into a patient may be eitherdirect, in which case the patient is directly exposed to the nucleicacid or nucleic acid- carrying vectors, or indirect, in which case,cells are first transformed with the nucleic acids in vitro, thentransplanted into the patient. These two approaches are known,respectively, as in vivo or ex vivo gene therapy.

[0347] In a specific embodiment, the nucleic acid sequences are directlyadministered in vivo, where it is expressed to produce the encodedproduct. This can be accomplished by any of numerous methods known inthe art, e.g., by constructing them as part of an appropriate nucleicacid expression vector and administering it so that they becomeintracellular, e.g., by infection using defective or attenuatedretrovirals or other viral vectors (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,286), or bydirect injection of naked DNA, or by use of microparticle bombardment(e.g., a gene gun; Biolistic, Dupont), or coating with lipids orcell-surface receptors or transfecting agents, encapsulation inliposomes, microparticles, or microcapsules, or by administering them inlinkage to a peptide which is known to enter the nucleus, byadministering it in linkage to a ligand subject to receptor-mediatedendocytosis (see, e.g., Wu and Wu, J. Biol. Chem. 262:4429-4432 (1987))(which can be used to target cell types specifically expressing thereceptors), etc. In another embodiment, nucleic acid-ligand complexescan be formed in which the ligand comprises a fusogenic viral peptide todisrupt endosomes, allowing the nucleic acid to avoid lysosomaldegradation. In yet another embodiment, the nucleic acid can be targetedin vivo for cell specific uptake and expression, by targeting a specificreceptor (see, e.g., PCT Publications WO 92/06180; WO 92/22635;WO92/20316; WO93/14188, WO 93/20221). Alternatively, the nucleic acidcan be introduced intracellularly and incorporated within host cell DNAfor expression, by homologous recombination (Koller and Smithies, Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:8932-8935 (1989); Zijlstra et al., Nature342:435-438 (1989)).

[0348] In a specific embodiment, viral vectors that contains nucleicacid sequences encoding an antibody of the invention are used. Forexample, a retroviral vector can be used (see Miller et al., Meth.Enzymol. 217:581-599 (1993)). These retroviral vectors contain thecomponents necessary for the correct packaging of the viral genome andintegration into the host cell DNA. The nucleic acid sequences encodingthe antibody to be used in gene therapy are cloned into one or morevectors, which facilitates delivery of the gene into a patient. Moredetail about retroviral vectors can be found in Boesen et al.,Biotherapy 6:291-302 (1994), which describes the use of a retroviralvector to deliver the mdr1 gene to hematopoietic stem cells in order tomake the stem cells more resistant to chemotherapy. Other referencesillustrating the use of retroviral vectors in gene therapy are: Cloweset al., J. Clin. Invest. 93:644-651 (1994); Kiem et al., Blood83:1467-1473 (1994); Salmons and Gunzberg, Human Gene Therapy 4:129-141(1993); and Grossman and Wilson, Curr. Opin. in Genetics and Devel.3:110-114 (1993).

[0349] Adenoviruses are other viral vectors that can be used in genetherapy. Adenoviruses are especially attractive vehicles for deliveringgenes to respiratory epithelia. Adenoviruses naturally infectrespiratory epithelia where they cause a mild disease. Other targets foradenovirus-based delivery systems are liver, the central nervous system,endothelial cells, and muscle. Adenoviruses have the advantage of beingcapable of infecting non-dividing cells. Kozarsky and Wilson, CurrentOpinion in Genetics and Development 3:499-503 (1993) present a review ofadenovirus-based gene therapy. Bout et al., Human Gene Therapy 5:3-10(1994) demonstrated the use of adenovirus vectors to transfer genes tothe respiratory epithelia of rhesus monkeys. Other instances of the useof adenoviruses in gene therapy can be found in Rosenfeld et al.,Science 252:431-434 (1991); Rosenfeld et al., Cell 68:143-155 (1992);Mastrangeli et al., J. Clin. Invest. 91:225-234 (1993); PCT PublicationWO94/12649; and Wang, et al., Gene Therapy 2:775-783 (1995). In apreferred embodiment, adenovirus vectors are used.

[0350] Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has also been proposed for use ingene therapy (Walsh et al., Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 204:289-300(1993); U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,146).

[0351] Another approach to gene therapy involves transferring a gene tocells in tissue culture by such methods as electroporation, lipofection,calcium phosphate mediated transfection, or viral infection. Usually,the method of transfer includes the transfer of a selectable marker tothe cells. The cells are then placed under selection to isolate thosecells that have taken up and are expressing the transferred gene. Thosecells are then delivered to a patient.

[0352] In this embodiment, the nucleic acid is introduced into a cellprior to administration in vivo of the resulting recombinant cell. Suchintroduction can be carried out by any method known in the art,including but not limited to transfection, electroporation,microinjection, infection with a viral or bacteriophage vectorcontaining the nucleic acid sequences, cell fusion, chromosome-mediatedgene transfer, microcell-mediated gene transfer, spheroplast fusion,etc. Numerous techniques are known in the art for the introduction offoreign genes into cells (see, e.g., Loeffler and Behr, Meth. Enzymol.217:599-618 (1993); Cohen et al., Meth. Enzymol. 217:618-644 (1993);Cline, Pharmac. Ther. 29:69-92 m (1985) and may be used in accordancewith the present invention, provided that the necessary developmentaland physiological functions of the recipient cells are not disrupted.The technique should provide for the stable transfer of the nucleic acidto the cell, so that the nucleic acid is expressible by the cell andpreferably heritable and expressible by its cell progeny.

[0353] The resulting recombinant cells can be delivered to a patient byvarious methods known in the art. Recombinant blood cells (e.g.,hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells) are preferably administeredintravenously. The amount of cells envisioned for use depends on thedesired effect, patient state, etc., and can be determined by oneskilled in the art.

[0354] Cells into which a nucleic acid can be introduced for purposes ofgene therapy encompass any desired, available cell type, and include butare not limited to epithelial cells, endothelial cells, keratinocytes,fibroblasts, muscle cells, hepatocytes; blood cells such asTlymphocytes, Blymphocytes, monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils,eosinophils, megakaryocytes, granulocytes; various stem or progenitorcells, in particular hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells, e.g., asobtained from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, peripheral blood, fetalliver, etc.

[0355] In a preferred embodiment, the cell used for gene therapy isautologous to the patient.

[0356] In an embodiment in which recombinant cells are used in genetherapy, nucleic acid sequences encoding an antibody are introduced intothe cells such that they are expressible by the cells or their progeny,and the recombinant cells are then administered in vivo for therapeuticeffect. In a specific embodiment, stem or progenitor cells are used. Anystem and/or progenitor cells which can be isolated and maintained invitro can potentially be used in accordance with this embodiment of thepresent invention (see e.g. PCT Publication WO 94/08598; Stemple andAnderson, Cell 71:973-985 (1992); Rheinwald, Meth. Cell Bio. 21A:229(1980); and Pittelkow and Scott, Mayo Clinic Proc. 61:771 (1986)).

[0357] In a specific embodiment, the nucleic acid to be introduced forpurposes of gene therapy comprises an inducible promoter operably linkedto the coding region, such that expression of the nucleic acid iscontrollable by controlling the presence or absence of the appropriateinducer of transcription.

[0358] Demonstration of Therapeutic or Prophylactic Activity

[0359] The compounds or pharmaceutical compositions of the invention arepreferably tested in vitro, and then in vivo for the desired therapeuticor prophylactic activity, prior to use in humans. For example, in vitroassays to demonstrate the therapeutic or prophylactic utility of acompound or pharmaceutical composition include, the effect of a compoundon a cell line or a patient tissue sample. The effect of the compound orcomposition on the cell line and/or tissue sample can be determinedutilizing techniques known to those of skill in the art including, butnot limited to, rosette formation assays and cell lysis assays. Inaccordance with the invention, in vitro assays which can be used todetermine whether administration of a specific compound is indicated,include in vitro cell culture assays in which a patient tissue sample isgrown in culture, and exposed to or otherwise administered a compound,and the effect of such compound upon the tissue sample is observed.

[0360] Therapeutic/Prophylactic Administration and Composition

[0361] The invention provides methods of treatment, inhibition andprophylaxis by administration to a subject of an effective amount of acompound or pharmaceutical composition of the invention, preferably anantibody of the invention. In a preferred aspect, the compound issubstantially purified (e.g., substantially free from substances thatlimit its effect or produce undesired side-effects). The subject ispreferably an animal, including but not limited to animals such as cows,pigs, horses, chickens, cats, dogs, etc., and is preferably a mammal,and most preferably human.

[0362] Formulations and methods of administration that can be employedwhen the compound comprises a nucleic acid or an immunoglobulin aredescribed above; additional appropriate formulations and routes ofadministration can be selected from among those described herein below.

[0363] Various delivery systems are known and can be used to administera compound of the invention, e.g., encapsulation in liposomes,microparticles, microcapsules, recombinant cells capable of expressingthe compound, receptor-mediated endocytosis (see, e.g., Wu and Wu, J.Biol. Chem. 262:4429-4432 (1987)), construction of a nucleic acid aspart of a retroviral or other vector, etc. Methods of introductioninclude but are not limited to intradermal, intramuscular,intraperitoneal, intravenous, subcutaneous, intranasal, epidural, andoral routes. The compounds or compositions may be administered by anyconvenient route, for example by infusion or bolus injection, byabsorption through epithelial or mucocutaneous linings (e.g., oralmucosa, rectal and intestinal mucosa, etc.) and may be administeredtogether with other biologically active agents. Administration can besystemic or local. In addition, it may be desirable to introduce thepharmaceutical compounds or compositions of the invention into thecentral nervous system by any suitable route, including intraventricularand intrathecal injection; intraventricular injection may be facilitatedby an intraventricular catheter, for example, attached to a reservoir,such as an Ommaya reservoir. Pulmonary administration can also beemployed, e.g., by use of an inhaler or nebulizer, and formulation withan aerosolizing agent.

[0364] In a specific embodiment, it may be desirable to administer thepharmaceutical compounds or compositions of the invention locally to thearea in need of treatment; this may be achieved by, for example, and notby way of limitation, local infusion during surgery, topicalapplication, e.g., in conjunction with a wound dressing after surgery,by injection, by means of a catheter, by means of a suppository, or bymeans of an implant, said implant being of a porous, non-porous, orgelatinous material, including membranes, such as sialastic membranes,or fibers. Preferably, when administering a protein, including anantibody, of the invention, care must be taken to use materials to whichthe protein does not absorb.

[0365] In another embodiment, the compound or composition can bedelivered in a vesicle, in particular a liposome (see Langer, Science249:1527-1533 (1990); Treat et al., in Liposomes in the Therapy ofInfectious Disease and Cancer, Lopez-Berestein and Fidler (eds.), Liss,New York, pp. 353-365 (1989); Lopez-Berestein, ibid., pp. 317-327; seegenerally ibid.)

[0366] In yet another embodiment, the compound or composition can bedelivered in a controlled release system. In one embodiment, a pump maybe used (see Langer, supra; Sefton, CRC Crit. Ref. Biomed. Eng. 14:201(1987); Buchwald et al., Surgery 88:507 (1980); Saudek et al., N. Engl.J. Med. 321:574 (1989)). In another embodiment, polymeric materials canbe used (see Medical Applications of Controlled Release, Langer and Wise(eds.), CRC Pres., Boca Raton, Fla. (1974); Controlled DrugBioavailability, Drug Product Design and Performance, Smolen and Ball(eds.), Wiley, New York (1984); Ranger and Peppas, J., Macromol. Sci.Rev. Macromol. Chem. 23:61 (1983); see also Levy et al., Science 228:190(1985); During et al., Ann. Neurol. 25:351 (1989); Howard et al., J.Neurosurg. 71:105 (1989)). In yet another embodiment, a controlledrelease system can be placed in proximity of the therapeutic target,i.e., the brain, thus requiring only a fraction of the systemic dose(see, e.g., Goodson, in Medical Applications of Controlled Release,supra, vol. 2, pp. 115-138 (1984)).

[0367] Other controlled release systems are discussed in the review byLanger (Science 249:1527-1533 (1990)).

[0368] In a specific embodiment where the compound of the invention is anucleic acid encoding a protein, the nucleic acid can be administered invivo to promote expression of its encoded protein, by constructing it aspart of an appropriate nucleic acid expression vector and administeringit so that it becomes intracellular, e.g., by use of a retroviral vector(see U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,286), or by direct injection, or by use ofmicroparticle bombardment (e.g., a gene gun; Biolistic, Dupont), orcoating with lipids or cell-surface receptors or transfecting agents, orby administering it in linkage to a homeobox- like peptide which isknown to enter the nucleus (see e.g., Joliot et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA 88:1864-1868 (1991)), etc. Alternatively, a nucleic acid can beintroduced intracellularly and incorporated within host cell DNA forexpression, by homologous recombination.

[0369] The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions.Such compositions comprise a therapeutically effective amount of acompound, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In a specificembodiment, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable” means approved by aregulatory agency of the Federal or a state government or listed in theU.S. Pharmacopeia or other generally recognized pharmacopeia for use inanimals, and more particularly in humans. The term “carrier” refers to adiluent, adjuvant, excipient, or vehicle with which the therapeutic isadministered. Such pharmaceutical carriers can be sterile liquids, suchas water and oils, including those of petroleum, animal, vegetable orsynthetic origin, such as peanut oil, soybean oil, mineral oil, sesameoil and the like. Water is a preferred carrier when the pharmaceuticalcomposition is administered intravenously. Saline solutions and aqueousdextrose and glycerol solutions can also be employed as liquid carriers,particularly for injectable solutions. Suitable pharmaceuticalexcipients include starch, glucose, lactose, sucrose, gelatin, malt,rice, flour, chalk, silica gel, sodium stearate, glycerol monostearate,talc, sodium chloride, dried skim milk, glycerol, propylene, glycol,water, ethanol and the like. The composition, if desired, can alsocontain minor amounts of wetting or emulsifying agents, or pH bufferingagents. These compositions can take the form of solutions, suspensions,emulsion, tablets, pills, capsules, powders, sustained-releaseformulations and the like. The composition can be formulated as asuppository, with traditional binders and carriers such astriglycerides. Oral formulation can include standard carriers such aspharmaceutical grades of mannitol, lactose, starch, magnesium stearate,sodium saccharine, cellulose, magnesium carbonate, etc. Examples ofsuitable pharmaceutical carriers are described in “Remington'sPharmaceutical Sciences” by E. W. Martin. Such compositions will containa therapeutically effective amount of the compound, preferably inpurified form, together with a suitable amount of carrier so as toprovide the form for proper administration to the patient. Theformulation should suit the mode of administration.

[0370] In a preferred embodiment, the composition is formulated inaccordance with routine procedures as a pharmaceutical compositionadapted for intravenous administration to human beings. Typically,compositions for intravenous administration are solutions in sterileisotonic aqueous buffer. Where necessary, the composition may alsoinclude a solubilizing agent and a local anesthetic such as lignocaineto ease pain at the site of the injection. Generally, the ingredientsare supplied either separately or mixed together in unit dosage form,for example, as a dry lyophilized powder or water free concentrate in ahermetically sealed container such as an ampoule or sachette indicatingthe quantity of active agent. Where the composition is to beadministered by infusion, it can be dispensed with an infusion bottlecontaining sterile pharmaceutical grade water or saline. Where thecomposition is administered by injection, an ampoule of sterile waterfor injection or saline can be provided so that the ingredients may bemixed prior to administration.

[0371] The compounds of the invention can be formulated as neutral orsalt forms. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include those formed withanions such as those derived from hydrochloric, phosphoric, acetic,oxalic, tartaric acids, etc., and those formed with cations such asthose derived from sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, ferrichydroxides, isopropylamine, triethylamine, 2-ethylamino ethanol,histidine, procaine, etc.

[0372] The amount of the compound of the invention which will beeffective in the treatment, inhibition and prevention of a disease ordisorder associated with aberrant expression and/or activity of apolypeptide of the invention can be determined by standard clinicaltechniques. In addition, in vitro assays may optionally be employed tohelp identify optimal dosage ranges. The precise dose to be employed inthe formulation will also depend on the route of administration, and theseriousness of the disease or disorder, and should be decided accordingto the judgment of the practitioner and each patient's circumstances.Effective doses may be extrapolated from dose-response curves derivedfrom in vitro or animal model test systems.

[0373] For antibodies, the dosage administered to a patient is typically0.1 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg of the patient's body weight. Preferably, thedosage administered to a patient is between 0.1 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg ofthe patient's body weight, more preferably 1 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg of thepatient's body weight. Generally, human antibodies have a longerhalf-life within the human body than antibodies from other species dueto the immune response to the foreign polypeptides. Thus, lower dosagesof human antibodies and less frequent administration is often possible.Further, the dosage and frequency of administration of antibodies of theinvention may be reduced by enhancing uptake and tissue penetration(e.g., into the brain) of the antibodies by modifications such as, forexample, lipidation.

[0374] The invention also provides a pharmaceutical pack or kitcomprising one or more containers filled with one or more of theingredients of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention.Optionally associated with such container(s) can be a notice in the formprescribed by a governmental agency regulating the manufacture, use orsale of pharmaceuticals or biological products, which notice reflectsapproval by the agency of manufacture, use or sale for humanadministration.

[0375] Diagnosis and Imaging

[0376] Labeled antibodies, and derivatives and analogs thereof, whichspecifically bind to a polypeptide of interest can be used fordiagnostic purposes to detect, diagnose, or monitor diseases, disorders,and/or conditions associated with the aberrant expression and/oractivity of a polypeptide of the invention. The invention provides forthe detection of aberrant expression of a polypeptide of interest,comprising (a) assaying the expression of the polypeptide of interest incells or body fluid of an individual using one or more antibodiesspecific to the polypeptide interest and (b) comparing the level of geneexpression with a standard gene expression level, whereby an increase ordecrease in the assayed polypeptide gene expression level compared tothe standard expression level is indicative of aberrant expression.

[0377] The invention provides a diagnostic assay for diagnosing adisorder, comprising (a) assaying the expression of the polypeptide ofinterest in cells or body fluid of an individual using one or moreantibodies specific to the polypeptide interest and (b) comparing thelevel of gene expression with a standard gene expression level, wherebyan increase or decrease in the assayed polypeptide gene expression levelcompared to the standard expression level is indicative of a particulardisorder. With respect to cancer, the presence of a relatively highamount of transcript in biopsied tissue from an individual may indicatea predisposition for the development of the disease, or may provide ameans for detecting the disease prior to the appearance of actualclinical symptoms. A more definitive diagnosis of this type may allowhealth professionals to employ preventative measures or aggressivetreatment earlier thereby preventing the development or furtherprogression of the cancer.

[0378] Antibodies of the invention can be used to assay protein levelsin a biological sample using classical immunohistological methods knownto those of skill in the art (e.g., see Jalkanen, et al., J. Cell. Biol.101:976-985 (1985); Jalkanen, et al., J. Cell. Biol. 105:3087-3096(1987)). Other antibody-based methods useful for detecting protein geneexpression include immunoassays, such as the enzyme linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) and the radioimmunoassay (RIA). Suitable antibody assaylabels are known in the art and include enzyme labels, such as, glucoseoxidase; radioisotopes, such as iodine (125I, 121I), carbon (14C),sulfur (35S), tritium (3H), indium (112In), and technetium (99Tc);luminescent labels, such as luminol; and fluorescent labels, such asfluorescein and rhodamine, and biotin.

[0379] One aspect of the invention is the detection and diagnosis of adisease or disorder associated with aberrant expression of a polypeptideof interest in an animal, preferably a mammal and most preferably ahuman. In one embodiment, diagnosis comprises: a) administering (forexample, parenterally, subcutaneously, or intraperitoneally) to asubject an effective amount of a labeled molecule which specificallybinds to the polypeptide of interest; b) waiting for a time intervalfollowing the administering for permitting the labeled molecule topreferentially concentrate at sites in the subject where the polypeptideis expressed (and for unbound labeled molecule to be cleared tobackground level); c) determining background level; and d) detecting thelabeled molecule in the subject, such that detection of labeled moleculeabove the background level indicates that the subject has a particulardisease or disorder associated with aberrant expression of thepolypeptide of interest. Background level can be determined by variousmethods including, comparing the amount of labeled molecule detected toa standard value previously determined for a particular system.

[0380] It will be understood in the art that the size of the subject andthe imaging system used will determine the quantity of imaging moietyneeded to produce diagnostic images. In the case of a radioisotopemoiety, for a human subject, the quantity of radioactivity injected willnormally range from about 5 to 20 millicuries of 99 mTc. The labeledantibody or antibody fragment will then preferentially accumulate at thelocation of cells which contain the specific protein. In vivo tumorimaging is described in S. W. Burchiel et al., “Immunopharmacokineticsof Radiolabeled Antibodies and Their Fragments.” (Chapter 13 in TumorImaging: The Radiochemical Detection of Cancer, S. W. Burchiel and B. A.Rhodes, eds., Masson Publishing Inc. (1982).

[0381] Depending on several variables, including the type of label usedand the mode of administration, the time interval following theadministration for permitting the labeled molecule to preferentiallyconcentrate at sites in the subject and for unbound labeled molecule tobe cleared to background level is 6 to 48 hours or 6 to 24 hours or 6 to12 hours. In another embodiment the time interval followingadministration is 5 to 20 days or 5 to 10 days.

[0382] In an embodiment, monitoring of the disease or disorder iscarried out by repeating the method for diagnosing the disease ordisease, for example, one month after initial diagnosis, six monthsafter initial diagnosis, one year after initial diagnosis, etc.

[0383] Presence of the labeled molecule can be detected in the patientusing methods known in the art for in vivo scanning. These methodsdepend upon the type of label used. Skilled artisans will be able todetermine the appropriate method for detecting a particular label.Methods and devices that may be used in the diagnostic methods of theinvention include, but are not limited to, computed tomography (CT),whole body scan such as position emission tomography (PET), magneticresonance imaging (MRI), and sonography.

[0384] In a specific embodiment, the molecule is labeled with aradioisotope and is detected in the patient using a radiation responsivesurgical instrument (Thurston et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,050). Inanother embodiment, the molecule is labeled with a fluorescent compoundand is detected in the patient using a fluorescence responsive scanninginstrument. In another embodiment, the molecule is labeled with apositron emitting metal and is detected in the patent using positronemission-tomography. In yet another embodiment, the molecule is labeledwith a paramagnetic label and is detected in a patient using magneticresonance imaging (MRI).

[0385] Kits

[0386] The present invention provides kits that can be used in the abovemethods. In one embodiment, a kit comprises an antibody of theinvention, preferably a purified antibody, in one or more containers. Ina specific embodiment, the kits of the present invention contain asubstantially isolated polypeptide comprising an epitope which isspecifically immunoreactive with an antibody included in the kit.Preferably, the kits of the present invention further comprise a controlantibody which does not react with the polypeptide of interest. Inanother specific embodiment, the kits of the present invention contain ameans for detecting the binding of an antibody to a polypeptide ofinterest (e.g., the antibody may be conjugated to a detectable substratesuch as a fluorescent compound, an enzymatic substrate, a radioactivecompound or a luminescent compound, or a second antibody whichrecognizes the first antibody may be conjugated to a detectablesubstrate).

[0387] In another specific embodiment of the present invention, the kitis a diagnostic kit for use in screening serum containing antibodiesspecific against proliferative and/or cancerous polynucleotides andpolypeptides. Such a kit may include a control antibody that does notreact with the polypeptide of interest. Such a kit may include asubstantially isolated polypeptide antigen comprising an epitope whichis specifically immunoreactive with at least one anti-polypeptideantigen antibody. Further, such a kit includes means for detecting thebinding of said antibody to the antigen (e.g., the antibody may beconjugated to a fluorescent compound such as fluorescein or rhodaminewhich can be detected by flow cytometry). In specific embodiments, thekit may include a recombinantly produced or chemically synthesizedpolypeptide antigen. The polypeptide antigen of the kit may also beattached to a solid support.

[0388] In a more specific embodiment the detecting means of theabove-described kit includes a solid support to which said polypeptideantigen is attached. Such a kit may also include a non-attachedreporter-labeled anti-human antibody. In this embodiment, binding of theantibody to the polypeptide antigen can be detected by binding of thesaid reporter-labeled antibody.

[0389] In an additional embodiment, the invention includes a diagnostickit for use in screening serum containing antigens of the polypeptide ofthe invention. The diagnostic kit includes a substantially isolatedantibody specifically immunoreactive with polypeptide or polynucleotideantigens, and means for detecting the binding of the polynucleotide orpolypeptide antigen to the antibody. In one embodiment, the antibody isattached to a solid support. In a specific embodiment, the antibody maybe a monoclonal antibody. The detecting means of the kit may include asecond, labeled monoclonal antibody. Alternatively, or in addition, thedetecting means may include a labeled, competing antigen.

[0390] In one diagnostic configuration, test serum is reacted with asolid phase reagent having a surface-bound antigen obtained by themethods of the present invention. After binding with specific antigenantibody to the reagent and removing unbound serum components bywashing, the reagent is reacted with reporter-labeled anti-humanantibody to bind reporter to the reagent in proportion to the amount ofbound anti-antigen antibody on the solid support. The reagent is againwashed to remove unbound labeled antibody, and the amount of reporterassociated with the reagent is determined. Typically, the reporter is anenzyme which is detected by incubating the solid phase in the presenceof a suitable fluorometric, luminescent or calorimetric substrate(Sigma, St. Louis, Mo.).

[0391] The solid surface reagent in the above assay is prepared by knowntechniques for attaching protein material to solid support material,such as polymeric beads, dip sticks, 96-well plate or filter material.These attachment methods generally include non-specific adsorption ofthe protein to the support or covalent attachment of the protein,typically through a free amine group, to a chemically reactive group onthe solid support, such as an activated carboxyl, hydroxyl, or aldehydegroup. Alternatively, streptavidin coated plates can be used inconjunction with biotinylated antigen(s).

[0392] Thus, the invention provides an assay system or kit for carryingout this diagnostic method. The kit generally includes a support withsurface-bound recombinant antigens, and a reporter-labeled anti-humanantibody for detecting surface-bound anti-antigen antibody.

[0393] Fusion Proteins

[0394] Any polypeptide of the present invention can be used to generatefusion proteins. For example, the polypeptide of the present invention,when fused to a second protein, can be used as an antigenic tag.Antibodies raised against the polypeptide of the present invention canbe used to indirectly detect the second protein by binding to thepolypeptide. Moreover, because secreted proteins target cellularlocations based on trafficking signals, the polypeptides of the presentinvention can be used as targeting molecules once fused to otherproteins.

[0395] Examples of domains that can be fused to polypeptides of thepresent invention include not only heterologous signal sequences, butalso other heterologous functional regions. The fusion does notnecessarily need to be direct, but may occur through linker sequences.

[0396] Moreover, fusion proteins may also be engineered to improvecharacteristics of the polypeptide of the present invention. Forinstance, a region of additional amino acids, particularly charged aminoacids, may be added to the N-terminus of the polypeptide to improvestability and persistence during purification from the host cell orsubsequent handling and storage. Also, peptide moieties may be added tothe polypeptide to facilitate purification. Such regions may be removedprior to final preparation of the polypeptide. The addition of peptidemoieties to facilitate handling of polypeptides are familiar and routinetechniques in the art.

[0397] Moreover, polypeptides of the present invention, includingfragments, and specifically epitopes, can be combined with parts of theconstant domain of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgE, IgG, IgM) or portionsthereof (CH1, CH2, CH3, and any combination thereof, including bothentire domains and portions thereof), resulting in chimericpolypeptides. These fusion proteins facilitate purification and show anincreased half-life in vivo. One reported example describes chimericproteins consisting of the first two domains of the humanCD4-polypeptide and various domains of the constant regions of the heavyor light chains of mammalian immunoglobulins. (EP A 394,827; Trauneckeret al., Nature 331:84-86 (1988).) Fusion proteins havingdisulfide-linked dimeric structures (due to the IgG) can also be moreefficient in binding and neutralizing other molecules, than themonomeric secreted protein or protein fragment alone. (Fountoulakis etal., J. Biochem. 270:3958-3964 (1995).) Polynucleotides comprising oralternatively consisting of nucleic acids which encode these fusionproteins are also encompassed by the invention.

[0398] Similarly, EP-A-O 464 533 (Canadian counterpart 2045869)discloses fusion proteins comprising various portions of constant regionof immunoglobulin molecules together with another human protein or partthereof. In many cases, the Fc part in a fusion protein is beneficial intherapy and diagnosis, and thus can result in, for example, improvedpharmacokinetic properties. (EP-A 0232 262.) Alternatively, deleting theFc part after the fusion protein has been expressed, detected, andpurified, would be desired. For example, the Fc portion may hindertherapy and diagnosis if the fusion protein is used as an antigen forimmunizations. In drug discovery, for example, human proteins, such ashIL-5, have been fused with Fc portions for the purpose ofhigh-throughput screening assays to identify antagonists of hIL-5. (See,D. Bennett et al., J. Molecular Recognition 8:52-58 (1995); K. Johansonet al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:9459-9471 (1995).)

[0399] Moreover, the polypeptides of the present invention can be fusedto marker sequences, such as a peptide which facilitates purification ofthe fused polypeptide. In preferred embodiments, the marker amino acidsequence is a hexa-histidine peptide, such as the tag provided in a pQEvector (QIAGEN, Inc., 9259 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, Calif., 91311),among others, many of which are commercially available. As described inGentz et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:821-824 (1989), forinstance, hexa-histidine provides for convenient purification of thefusion protein. Another peptide tag useful for purification, the “HA”tag, corresponds to an epitope derived from the influenza hemagglutininprotein. (Wilson et al., Cell 37:767 (1984).)

[0400] Thus, any of these above fusions can be engineered using thepolynucleotides or the polypeptides of the present invention.

[0401] Vectors, Host Cells, and Protein Production

[0402] The present invention also relates to vectors containing thepolynucleotide of the present invention, host cells, and the productionof polypeptides by recombinant techniques. The vector may be, forexample, a phage, plasmid, viral, or retroviral vector. Retroviralvectors may be replication competent or replication defective. In thelatter case, viral propagation generally will occur only incomplementing host cells.

[0403] The polynucleotides may be joined to a vector containing aselectable marker for propagation in a host. Generally, a plasmid vectoris introduced in a precipitate, such as a calcium phosphate precipitate,or in a complex with a charged lipid. If the vector is a virus, it maybe packaged in vitro using an appropriate packaging cell line and thentransduced into host cells.

[0404] The polynucleotide insert should be operatively linked to anappropriate promoter, such as the phage lambda PL promoter, the E. colilac, trp, phoA and tac promoters, the SV40 early and late promoters andpromoters of retroviral LTRs, to name a few. Other suitable promoterswill be known to the skilled artisan. The expression constructs willfurther contain sites for transcription initiation, termination, and, inthe transcribed region, a ribosome binding site for translation. Thecoding portion of the transcripts expressed by the constructs willpreferably include a translation initiating codon at the beginning and atermination codon (UAA, UGA or UAG) appropriately positioned at the endof the polypeptide to be translated.

[0405] As indicated, the expression vectors will preferably include atleast one selectable marker. Such markers include dihydrofolatereductase, G418 or neomycin resistance for eukaryotic cell culture andtetracycline, kanamycin or ampicillin resistance genes for culturing inE. coli and other bacteria. Representative examples of appropriate hostsinclude, but are not limited to, bacterial cells, such as E. coli,Streptomyces and Salmonella typhimurium cells; fungal cells, such asyeast cells (e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Pichia pastoris (ATCCAccession No. 201178)); insect cells such as Drosophila S2 andSpodoptera Sf9 cells; animal cells such as CHO, COS, 293, and Bowesmelanoma cells; and plant cells. Appropriate culture mediums andconditions for the above-described host cells are known in the art.

[0406] Among vectors preferred for use in bacteria include pQE70, pQE60and pQE-9, available from QIAGEN, Inc.; pBluescript vectors, Phagescriptvectors, pNH8A, pNH16a, pNH18A, pNH46A, available from StratageneCloning Systems, Inc.; and ptrc99a, pKK223-3, pKK233-3, pDR540, pRIT5available from Pharmacia Biotech, Inc. Among preferred eukaryoticvectors are pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXT1 and pSG available fromStratagene; and pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG and pSVL available from Pharmacia.Preferred expression vectors for use in yeast systems include, but arenot limited to pYES2, pYD1, pTEF1/Zeo, pYES2/GS, pPICZ, pGAPZ,pGAPZalph, pPIC9, pPIC3.5, pHIL-D2, pHIL-S1, pPIC3.5K, pPIC9K, andPAO815 (all available from Invitrogen, Carlbad, Calif.). Other suitablevectors will be readily apparent to the skilled artisan.

[0407] Introduction of the construct into the host cell can be effectedby calcium phosphate transfection, DEAE-dextran mediated transfection,cationic lipid-mediated transfection, electroporation, transduction,infection, or other methods. Such methods are described in many standardlaboratory manuals, such as Davis et al., Basic Methods In MolecularBiology (1986). It is specifically contemplated that the polypeptides ofthe present invention may in fact be expressed by a host cell lacking arecombinant vector.

[0408] A polypeptide of this invention can be recovered and purifiedfrom recombinant cell cultures by well-known methods including ammoniumsulfate or ethanol precipitation, acid extraction, anion or cationexchange chromatography, phosphocellulose chromatography, hydrophobicinteraction chromatography, affinity chromatography, hydroxylapatitechromatography and lectin chromatography. Most preferably, highperformance liquid chromatography (“HPLC”) is employed for purification.

[0409] Polypeptides of the present invention, and preferably thesecreted form, can also be recovered from: products purified fromnatural sources, including bodily fluids, tissues and cells, whetherdirectly isolated or cultured; products of chemical syntheticprocedures; and products produced by recombinant techniques from aprokaryotic or eukaryotic host, including, for example, bacterial,yeast, higher plant, insect, and mammalian cells. Depending upon thehost employed in a recombinant production procedure, the polypeptides ofthe present invention may be glycosylated or may be non-glycosylated. Inaddition, polypeptides of the invention may also include an initialmodified methionine residue, in some cases as a result of host-mediatedprocesses. Thus, it is well known in the art that the N-terminalmethionine encoded by the translation initiation codon generally isremoved with high efficiency from any protein after translation in alleukaryotic cells. While the N-terminal methionine on most proteins alsois efficiently removed in most prokaryotes, for some proteins, thisprokaryotic removal process is inefficient, depending on the nature ofthe amino acid to which the N-terminal methionine is covalently linked.

[0410] In one embodiment, the yeast Pichia pastoris is used to expressthe polypeptide of the present invention in a eukaryotic system. Pichiapastoris is a methylotrophic yeast which can metabolize methanol as itssole carbon source. A main step in the methanol metabolization pathwayis the oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde using O₂. This reaction iscatalyzed by the enzyme alcohol oxidase. In order to metabolize methanolas its sole carbon source, Pichia pastoris must generate high levels ofalcohol oxidase due, in part, to the relatively low affinity of alcoholoxidase for O₂. Consequently, in a growth medium depending on methanolas a main carbon source, the promoter region of one of the two alcoholoxidase genes (AOX1) is highly active. In the presence of methanol,alcohol oxidase produced from the AOX1 gene comprises up toapproximately 30% of the total soluble protein in Pichia pastoris. See,Ellis, S. B., et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 5:1111-21 (1985); Koutz, P. J, etal., Yeast 5:167-77 (1989); Tschopp, J. F., et al., Nucl. Acids Res.15:3859-76 (1987). Thus, a heterologous coding sequence, such as, forexample, a polynucleotide of the present invention, under thetranscriptional regulation of all or part of the AOX1 regulatorysequence is expressed at exceptionally high levels in Pichia yeast grownin the presence of methanol.

[0411] In one example, the plasmid vector pPIC9K is used to express DNAencoding a polypeptide of the invention, as set forth herein, in aPichea yeast system essentially as described in “Pichia Protocols:Methods in Molecular Biology,” D. R. Higgins and J. Cregg, eds. TheHumana Press, Totowa, N.J., 1998. This expression vector allowsexpression and secretion of a protein of the invention by virtue of thestrong AOX1 promoter linked to the Pichia pastoris alkaline phosphatase(PHO) secretory signal peptide (i.e., leader) located upstream of amultiple cloning site.

[0412] Many other yeast vectors could be used in place of pPIC9K, suchas, pYES2, pYD1, pTEF1/Zeo, pYES2/GS, pPICZ, pGAPZ, pGAPZalpha, pPIC9,pPIC3.5, pHIL-D2, pHIL-S 1, pPIC3.5K, and PA0815, as one skilled in theart would readily appreciate, as long as the proposed expressionconstruct provides appropriately located signals for transcription,translation, secretion (if desired), and the like, including an in-frameAUG as required.

[0413] In another embodiment, high-level expression of a heterologouscoding sequence, such as, for example, a polynucleotide of the presentinvention, may be achieved by cloning the heterologous polynucleotide ofthe invention into an expression vector such as, for example, pGAPZ orpGAPZalpha, and growing the yeast culture in the absence of methanol.

[0414] In addition to encompassing host cells containing the vectorconstructs discussed herein, the invention also encompasses primary,secondary, and immortalized host cells of vertebrate origin,particularly mammalian origin, that have been engineered to delete orreplace endogenous genetic material (e.g., coding sequence), and/or toinclude genetic material (e.g., heterologous polynucleotide sequences)that is operably associated with the polynucleotides of the invention,and which activates, alters, and/or amplifies endogenouspolynucleotides. For example, techniques known in the art may be used tooperably associate heterologous control regions (e.g., promoter and/orenhancer) and endogenous polynucleotide sequences via homologousrecombination, resulting in the formation of a new transcription unit(see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,670, issued Jun. 24, 1997; U.S. Pat. No.5,733,761, issued Mar. 31, 1998; International Publication No. WO96/29411, published Sep. 26, 1996; International Publication No. WO94/12650, published Aug. 4, 1994; Koller et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA 86:8932-8935 (1989); and Zijlstra et al., Nature 342:435-438 (1989),the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference in theirentireties).

[0415] In addition, polypeptides of the invention can be chemicallysynthesized using techniques known in the art (e.g., see Creighton,1983, Proteins: Structures and Molecular Principles, W.H. Freeman & Co.,N.Y., and Hunkapiller et al., Nature, 310:105-111 (1984)). For example,a polypeptide corresponding to a fragment of a polypeptide sequence ofthe invention can be synthesized by use of a peptide synthesizer.Furthermore, if desired, nonclassical amino acids or chemical amino acidanalogs can be introduced as a substitution or addition into thepolypeptide sequence. Non-classical amino acids include, but are notlimited to, to the D-isomers of the common amino acids,2,4-diaminobutyric acid, a-amino isobutyric acid, 4-aminobutyric acid,Abu, 2-amino butyric acid, g-Abu, e-Ahx, 6-amino hexanoic acid, Aib,2-amino isobutyric acid, 3-amino propionic acid, ornithine, norleucine,norvaline, hydroxyproline, sarcosine, citrulline, homocitrulline,cysteic acid, t-butylglycine, t-butylalanine, phenylglycine,cyclohexylalanine, b-alanine, fluoro-amino acids, designer amino acidssuch as b-methyl amino acids, Ca-methyl amino acids, Na-methyl aminoacids, and amino acid analogs in general. Furthermore, the amino acidcan be D (dextrorotary) or L (levorotary).

[0416] The invention encompasses polypeptides which are differentiallymodified during or after translation, e.g., by glycosylation,acetylation, phosphorylation, amidation, derivatization by knownprotecting/blocking groups, proteolytic cleavage, linkage to an antibodymolecule or other cellular ligand, etc. Any of numerous chemicalmodifications may be carried out by known techniques, including but notlimited, to specific chemical cleavage by cyanogen bromide, trypsin,chymotrypsin, papain, V8 protease, NaBH₄; acetylation, formylation,oxidation, reduction; metabolic synthesis in the presence oftunicamycin; etc.

[0417] Additional post-translational modifications encompassed by theinvention include, for example, e.g., N-linked or O-linked carbohydratechains, processing of N-terminal or C-terminal ends), attachment ofchemical moieties to the amino acid backbone, chemical modifications ofN-linked or O-linked carbohydrate chains, and addition or deletion of anN-terminal methionine residue as a result of procaryotic host cellexpression. The polypeptides may also be modified with a detectablelabel, such as an enzymatic, fluorescent, isotopic or affinity label toallow for detection and isolation of the protein.

[0418] Also provided by the invention are chemically modifiedderivatives of the polypeptides of the invention which may provideadditional advantages such as increased solubility, stability andcirculating time of the polypeptide, or decreased immunogenicity (seeU.S. Pat. No. 4,179,337). The chemical moieties for derivitization maybe selected from water soluble polymers such as polyethylene glycol,ethylene glycol/propylene glycol copolymers, carboxymethylcellulose,dextran, polyvinyl alcohol and the like. The polypeptides may bemodified at random positions within the molecule, or at predeterminedpositions within the molecule and may include one, two, three or moreattached chemical moieties.

[0419] The polymer may be of any molecular weight, and may be branchedor unbranched. For polyethylene glycol, the preferred molecular weightis between about 1 kDa and about 100 kDa (the term “about” indicatingthat in preparations of polyethylene glycol, some molecules will weighmore, some less, than the stated molecular weight) for ease in handlingand manufacturing. Other sizes may be used, depending on the desiredtherapeutic profile (e.g., the duration of sustained release desired,the effects, if any on biological activity, the ease in handling, thedegree or lack of antigenicity and other known effects of thepolyethylene glycol to a therapeutic protein or analog). For example,the polyethylene glycol may have an average molecular weight of about200, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 5000, 5500,6000, 6500, 7000, 7500, 8000, 8500, 9000, 9500, 10,000, 10,500, 11,000,11,500, 12,000, 12,500, 13,000, 13,500, 14,000, 14,500, 15,000, 15,500,16,000, 16,500, 17,000, 17,500, 18,000, 18,500, 19,000, 19,500, 20,000,25,000, 30,000, 35,000, 40,000, 50,000, 55,000, 60,000, 65,000, 70,000,75,000, 80,000, 85,000, 90,000, 95,000, or 100,000 kDa.

[0420] As noted above, the polyethylene glycol may have a branchedstructure. Branched polyethylene glycols are described, for example, inU.S. Pat. No. 5,643,575; Morpurgo et al., Appl. Biochem. Biotechnol.56:59-72 (1996); Vorobjev et al., Nucleosides Nucleotides 18:2745-2750(1999); and Caliceti et al., Bioconjug. Chem. 10:638-646 (1999), thedisclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0421] The polyethylene glycol molecules (or other chemical moieties)should be attached to the protein with consideration of effects onfunctional or antigenic domains of the protein. There are a number ofattachment methods available to those skilled in the art, e.g., EP 0 401384, herein incorporated by reference (coupling PEG to G-CSF), see alsoMalik et al., Exp. Hematol. 20:1028-1035 (1992) (reporting pegylation ofGM-CSF using tresyl chloride). For example, polyethylene glycol may becovalently bound through amino acid residues via a reactive group, suchas, a free amino or carboxyl group. Reactive groups are those to whichan activated polyethylene glycol molecule may be bound. The amino acidresidues having a free amino group may include lysine residues and theN-terminal amino acid residues; those having a free carboxyl group mayinclude aspartic acid residues glutamic acid residues and the C-terminalamino acid residue. Sulfhydryl groups may also be used as a reactivegroup for attaching the polyethylene glycol molecules. Preferred fortherapeutic purposes is attachment at an amino group, such as attachmentat the N-terminus or lysine group.

[0422] As suggested above, polyethylene glycol may be attached toproteins via linkage to any of a number of amino acid residues. Forexample, polyethylene glycol can be linked to a proteins via covalentbonds to lysine, histidine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or cysteineresidues. One or more reaction chemistries may be employed to attachpolyethylene glycol to specific amino acid residues (e.g., lysine,histidine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, or cysteine) of the protein orto more than one type of amino acid residue (e.g., lysine, histidine,aspartic acid, glutamic acid, cysteine and combinations thereof) of theprotein.

[0423] One may specifically desire proteins chemically modified at theN-terminus. Using polyethylene glycol as an illustration of the presentcomposition, one may select from a variety of polyethylene glycolmolecules (by molecular weight, branching, etc.), the proportion ofpolyethylene glycol molecules to protein (polypeptide) molecules in thereaction mix, the type of pegylation reaction to be performed, and themethod of obtaining the selected N-terminally pegylated protein. Themethod of obtaining the N-terminally pegylated preparation (i.e.,separating this moiety from other monopegylated moieties if necessary)may be by purification of the N-terminally pegylated material from apopulation of pegylated protein molecules. Selective proteins chemicallymodified at the N-terminus modification may be accomplished by reductivealkylation which exploits differential reactivity of different types ofprimary amino groups (lysine versus the N-terminal) available forderivatization in a particular protein. Under the appropriate reactionconditions, substantially selective derivatization of the protein at theN-terminus with a carbonyl group containing polymer is achieved.

[0424] As indicated above, pegylation of the proteins of the inventionmay be accomplished by any number of means. For example, polyethyleneglycol may be attached to the protein either directly or by anintervening linker. Linkerless systems for attaching polyethylene glycolto proteins are described in Delgado et al., Crit. Rev. Thera. DrugCarrier Sys. 9:249-304 (1992); Francis et al., Intern. J of Hematol.68:1-18 (1998); U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,531; U.S. Pat. No. 5,349,052; WO95/06058; and WO 98/32466, the disclosures of each of which areincorporated herein by reference.

[0425] One system for attaching polyethylene glycol directly to aminoacid residues of proteins without an intervening linker employstresylated MPEG, which is produced by the modification of monmethoxypolyethylene glycol (MPEG) using tresylchloride (ClSO₂CH₂CF₃). Uponreaction of protein with tresylated MPEG, polyethylene glycol isdirectly attached to amine groups of the protein. Thus, the inventionincludes protein-polyethylene glycol conjugates produced by reactingproteins of the invention with a polyethylene glycol molecule having a2,2,2-trifluoreothane sulphonyl group.

[0426] Polyethylene glycol can also be attached to proteins using anumber of different intervening linkers. For example, U.S. Pat. No.5,612,460, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference, discloses urethane linkers for connecting polyethylene glycolto proteins. Protein-polyethylene glycol conjugates wherein thepolyethylene glycol is attached to the protein by a linker can also beproduced by reaction of proteins with compounds such asMPEG-succinimidylsuccinate, MPEG activated with1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole, MPEG-2,4,5-trichloropenylcarbonate,MPEG-p-nitrophenolcarbonate, and various MPEG-succinate derivatives. Anumber additional polyethylene glycol derivatives and reactionchemistries for attaching polyethylene glycol to proteins are describedin WO 98/32466, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference. Pegylated protein products produced using the reactionchemistries set out herein are included within the scope of theinvention.

[0427] The number of polyethylene glycol moieties attached to eachprotein of the invention (i.e., the degree of substitution) may alsovary. For example, the pegylated proteins of the invention may belinked, on average, to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, ormore polyethylene glycol molecules. Similarly, the average degree ofsubstitution within ranges such as 1-3,2-4, 3-5,4-6, 5-7,6-8, 7-9,8-10,9-11, 10-12, 11-13, 12-14, 13-15, 14-16, 15-17, 16-18, 17-19, or 18-20polyethylene glycol moieties per protein molecule. Methods fordetermining the degree of substitution are discussed, for example, inDelgado et al., Crit. Rev. Thera. Drug Carrier Sys. 9:249-304 (1992).

[0428] The polypeptides of the invention may be in monomers or multimers(i.e., dimers, trimers, tetramers and higher multimers). Accordingly,the present invention relates to monomers and multimers of thepolypeptides of the invention, their preparation, and compositions(preferably, Therapeutics) containing them. In specific embodiments, thepolypeptides of the invention are monomers, dimers, trimers ortetramers. In additional embodiments, the multimers of the invention areat least dimers, at least trimers, or at least tetramers.

[0429] Multimers encompassed by the invention may be homomers orheteromers. As used herein, the term homomer, refers to a multimercontaining only polypeptides corresponding to the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO:Y or encoded by the cDNA contained in a deposited clone(including fragments, variants, splice variants, and fusion proteins,corresponding to these polypeptides as described herein). These homomersmay contain polypeptides having identical or different amino acidsequences. In a specific embodiment, a homomer of the invention is amultimer containing only polypeptides having an identical amino acidsequence. In another specific embodiment, a homomer of the invention isa multimer containing polypeptides having different amino acidsequences. In specific embodiments, the multimer of the invention is ahomodimer (e.g., containing polypeptides having identical or differentamino acid sequences) or a homotrimer (e.g., containing polypeptideshaving identical and/or different amino acid sequences). In additionalembodiments, the homomeric multimer of the invention is at least ahomodimer, at least a homotrimer, or at least a homotetramer.

[0430] As used herein, the term heteromer refers to a multimercontaining one or more heterologous polypeptides (i.e., polypeptides ofdifferent proteins) in addition to the polypeptides of the invention. Ina specific embodiment, the multimer of the invention is a heterodimer, aheterotrimer, or a heterotetramer. In additional embodiments, theheteromeric multimer of the invention is at least a heterodimer, atleast a heterotrimer, or at least a heterotetramer.

[0431] Multimers of the invention may be the result of hydrophobic,hydrophilic, ionic and/or covalent associations and/or may be indirectlylinked, by for example, liposome formation. Thus, in one embodiment,multimers of the invention, such as, for example, homodimers orhomotrimers, are formed when polypeptides of the invention contact oneanother in solution. In another embodiment, heteromultimers of theinvention, such as, for example, heterotrimers or heterotetramers, areformed when polypeptides of the invention contact antibodies to thepolypeptides of the invention (including antibodies to the heterologouspolypeptide sequence in a fusion protein of the invention) in solution.In other embodiments, multimers of the invention are formed by covalentassociations with and/or between the polypeptides of the invention. Suchcovalent associations may involve one or more amino acid residuescontained in the polypeptide sequence (e.g., that recited in thesequence listing, or contained in the polypeptide encoded by a depositedclone). In one instance, the covalent associations are cross-linkingbetween cysteine residues located within the polypeptide sequences whichinteract in the native (i.e., naturally occurring) polypeptide. Inanother instance, the covalent associations are the consequence ofchemical or recombinant manipulation. Alternatively, such covalentassociations may involve one or more amino acid residues contained inthe heterologous polypeptide sequence in a fusion protein of theinvention.

[0432] In one example, covalent associations are between theheterologous sequence contained in a fusion protein of the invention(see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925). In a specific example, thecovalent associations are between the heterologous sequence contained inan Fc fusion protein of the invention (as described herein). In anotherspecific example, covalent associations of fusion proteins of theinvention are between heterologous polypeptide sequence from anotherprotein that is capable of forming covalently associated multimers, suchas for example, oseteoprotegerin (see, e.g., International PublicationNO: WO 98/49305, the contents of which are herein incorporated byreference in its entirety). In another embodiment, two or morepolypeptides of the invention are joined through peptide linkers.Examples include those peptide linkers described in U.S. Pat. No.5,073,627 (hereby incorporated by reference). Proteins comprisingmultiple polypeptides of the invention separated by peptide linkers maybe produced using conventional recombinant DNA technology.

[0433] Another method for preparing multimer polypeptides of theinvention involves use of polypeptides of the invention fused to aleucine zipper or isoleucine zipper polypeptide sequence. Leucine zipperand isoleucine zipper domains are polypeptides that promotemultimerization of the proteins in which they are found. Leucine zipperswere originally identified in several DNA-binding proteins (Landschulzet al., Science 240:1759, (1988)), and have since been found in avariety of different proteins. Among the known leucine zippers arenaturally occurring peptides and derivatives thereof that dimerize ortrimerize. Examples of leucine zipper domains suitable for producingsoluble multimeric proteins of the invention are those described in PCTapplication WO 94/10308, hereby incorporated by reference. Recombinantfusion proteins comprising a polypeptide of the invention fused to apolypeptide sequence that dimerizes or trimerizes in solution areexpressed in suitable host cells, and the resulting soluble multimericfusion protein is recovered from the culture supernatant usingtechniques known in the art.

[0434] Trimeric polypeptides of the invention may offer the advantage ofenhanced biological activity. Preferred leucine zipper moieties andisoleucine moieties are those that preferentially form trimers. Oneexample is a leucine zipper derived from lung surfactant protein D(SPD), as described in Hoppe et al. (FEBS Letters 344:191, (1994)) andin U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/446,922, hereby incorporated byreference. Other peptides derived from naturally occurring trimericproteins may be employed in preparing trimeric polypeptides of theinvention.

[0435] In another example, proteins of the invention are associated byinteractions between Flag® polypeptide sequence contained in fusionproteins of the invention containing Flag® polypeptide seuqence. In afurther embodiment, associations proteins of the invention areassociated by interactions between heterologous polypeptide sequencecontained in Flag® fusion proteins of the invention and anti-Flag®antibody.

[0436] The multimers of the invention may be generated using chemicaltechniques known in the art. For example, polypeptides desired to becontained in the multimers of the invention may be chemicallycross-linked using linker molecules and linker molecule lengthoptimization techniques known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.5,478,925, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety).Additionally, multimers of the invention may be generated usingtechniques known in the art to form one or more inter-moleculecross-links between the cysteine residues located within the sequence ofthe polypeptides desired to be contained in the multimer (see, e.g.,U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which is herein incorporated by reference inits entirety). Further, polypeptides of the invention may be routinelymodified by the addition of cysteine or biotin to the C terminus orN-terminus of the polypeptide and techniques known in the art may beapplied to generate multimers containing one or more of these modifiedpolypeptides (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety). Additionally, techniquesknown in the art may be applied to generate liposomes containing thepolypeptide components desired to be contained in the multimer of theinvention (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety).

[0437] Alternatively, multimers of the invention may be generated usinggenetic engineering techniques known in the art. In one embodiment,polypeptides contained in multimers of the invention are producedrecombinantly using fusion protein technology described herein orotherwise known in the art (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,925, which isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety). In a specificembodiment, polynucleotides coding for a homodimer of the invention aregenerated by ligating a polynucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptideof the invention to a sequence encoding a linker polypeptide and thenfurther to a synthetic polynucleotide encoding the translated product ofthe polypeptide in the reverse orientation from the original C-terminusto the N-terminus (lacking the leader sequence) (see, e.g., U.S. Pat.No. 5,478,925, which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety). In another embodiment, recombinant techniques describedherein or otherwise known in the art are applied to generate recombinantpolypeptides of the invention which contain a transmembrane domain (orhyrophobic or signal peptide) and which can be incorporated by membranereconstitution techniques into liposomes (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No.5,478,925, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety).

[0438] Uses of the Polynucleotides

[0439] Each of the polynucleotides identified herein can be used innumerous ways as reagents. The following description should beconsidered exemplary and utilizes known techniques.

[0440] The polynucleotides of the present invention are useful forchromosome identification. There exists an ongoing need to identify newchromosome markers, since few chromosome marking reagents, based onactual sequence data (repeat polymorphisms), are presently available.Each polynucleotide of the present invention can be used as a chromosomemarker.

[0441] Briefly, sequences can be mapped to chromosomes by preparing PCRprimers (preferably 15-25 bp) from the sequences shown in SEQ ID NO:X.Primers can be selected using computer analysis so that primers do notspan more than one predicted exon in the genomic DNA. These primers arethen used for PCR screening of somatic cell hybrids containingindividual human chromosomes. Only those hybrids containing the humangene corresponding to the SEQ ID NO:X will yield an amplified fragment.

[0442] Similarly, somatic hybrids provide a rapid method of PCR mappingthe polynucleotides to particular chromosomes. Three or more clones canbe assigned per day using a single thermal cycler. Moreover,sublocalization of the polynucleotides can be achieved with panels ofspecific chromosome fragments. Other gene mapping strategies that can beused include in situ hybridization, prescreening with labeledflow-sorted chromosomes, preselection by hybridization to constructchromosome specific-cDNA libraries and computer mapping techniques (See,e.g., Shuler, Trends Biotechnol 16:456-459 (1998) which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety).

[0443] Precise chromosomal location of the polynucleotides can also beachieved using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of a metaphasechromosomal spread. This technique uses polynucleotides as short as 500or 600 bases; however, polynucleotides 2,000-4,000 bp are preferred. Fora review of this technique, see Verma et al., “Human Chromosomes: aManual of Basic Techniques,” Pergamon Press, New York (1988).

[0444] For chromosome mapping, the polynucleotides can be usedindividually (to mark a single chromosome or a single site on thatchromosome) or in panels (for marking multiple sites and/or multiplechromosomes).

[0445] The polynucleotides of the present invention would likewise beuseful for radiation hybrid mapping, HAPPY mapping, and long rangerestriction mapping. For a review of these techniques and others knownin the art, see, e.g., Dear, “Genome Mapping: A Practical Approach,” IRLPress at Oxford University Press, London (1997); Aydin, J. Mol. Med.77:691-694 (1999); Hacia et al., Mol. Psychiatry 3:483-492 (1998);Herrick et al., Chromosome Res. 7:409-423 (1999); Hamilton et al.,Methods Cell Biol. 62:265-280 (2000); and/or Ott, J. Hered. 90:68-70(1999) each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

[0446] Once a polynucleotide has been mapped to a precise chromosomallocation, the physical position of the polynucleotide can be used inlinkage analysis. Linkage analysis establishes coinheritance between achromosomal location and presentation of a particular disease. (Diseasemapping data are found, for example, in V. McKusick, MendelianInheritance in Man (available on line through Johns Hopkins UniversityWelch Medical Library).) Assuming 1 megabase mapping resolution and onegene per 20 kb, a cDNA precisely localized to a chromosomal regionassociated with the disease could be one of 50-500 potential causativegenes.

[0447] Thus, once coinheritance is established, differences in thepolynucleotide and the corresponding gene between affected andunaffected individuals can be examined. First, visible structuralalterations in the chromosomes, such as deletions or translocations, areexamined in chromosome spreads or by PCR. If no structural alterationsexist, the presence of point mutations are ascertained. Mutationsobserved in some or all affected individuals, but not in normalindividuals, indicates that the mutation may cause the disease. However,complete sequencing of the polypeptide and the corresponding gene fromseveral normal individuals is required to distinguish the mutation froma polymorphism. If a new polymorphism is identified, this polymorphicpolypeptide can be used for further linkage analysis.

[0448] Furthermore, increased or decreased expression of the gene inaffected individuals as compared to unaffected individuals can beassessed using polynucleotides of the present invention. Any of thesealterations (altered expression, chromosomal rearrangement, or mutation)can be used as a diagnostic or prognostic marker.

[0449] Thus, the invention also provides a diagnostic method usefulduring diagnosis of a disorder, involving measuring the expression levelof polynucleotides of the present invention in cells or body fluid froman individual and comparing the measured gene expression level with astandard level of polynucleotide expression level, whereby an increaseor decrease in the gene expression level compared to the standard isindicative of a disorder.

[0450] In still another embodiment, the invention includes a kit foranalyzing samples for the presence of proliferative and/or cancerouspolynucleotides derived from a test subject. In a general embodiment,the kit includes at least one polynucleotide probe containing anucleotide sequence that will specifically hybridize with apolynucleotide of the present invention and a suitable container. In aspecific embodiment, the kit includes two polynucleotide probes definingan internal region of the polynucleotide of the present invention, whereeach probe has one strand containing a 31′mer-end internal to theregion. In a further embodiment, the probes may be useful as primers forpolymerase chain reaction amplification.

[0451] Where a diagnosis of a disorder, has already been made accordingto conventional methods, the present invention is useful as a prognosticindicator, whereby patients exhibiting enhanced or depressedpolynucleotide of the present invention expression will experience aworse clinical outcome relative to patients expressing the gene at alevel nearer the standard level.

[0452] By “measuring the expression level of polynucleotide of thepresent invention” is intended qualitatively or quantitatively measuringor estimating the level of the polypeptide of the present invention orthe level of the mRNA encoding the polypeptide in a first biologicalsample either directly (e.g., by determining or estimating absoluteprotein level or mRNA level) or relatively (e.g., by comparing to thepolypeptide level or mRNA level in a second biological sample).Preferably, the polypeptide level or mRNA level in the first biologicalsample is measured or estimated and compared to a standard polypeptidelevel or mRNA level, the standard being taken from a second biologicalsample obtained from an individual not having the disorder or beingdetermined by averaging levels from a population of individuals nothaving a disorder. As will be appreciated in the art, once a standardpolypeptide level or mRNA level is known, it can be used repeatedly as astandard for comparison.

[0453] By “biological sample” is intended any biological sample obtainedfrom an individual, body fluid, cell line, tissue culture, or othersource which contains the polypeptide of the present invention or mRNA.As indicated, biological samples include body fluids (such as semen,lymph, sera, plasma, urine, synovial fluid and spinal fluid) whichcontain the polypeptide of the present invention, and other tissuesources found to express the polypeptide of the present invention.Methods for obtaining tissue biopsies and body fluids from mammals arewell known in the art. Where the biological sample is to include mRNA, atissue biopsy is the preferred source.

[0454] The method(s) provided above may preferrably be applied in adiagnostic method and/or kits in which polynucleotides and/orpolypeptides are attached to a solid support. In one exemplary method,the support may be a “gene chip” or a “biological chip” as described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,837,832, 5,874,219, and 5,856,174. Further, such a genechip with polynucleotides of the present invention attached may be usedto identify polymorphisms between the polynucleotide sequences, withpolynucleotides isolated from a test subject. The knowledge of suchpolymorphisms (i.e. their location, as well as, their existence) wouldbe beneficial in identifying disease loci for many disorders, includingcancerous diseases and conditions. Such a method is described in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,858,659 and 5,856,104. The US Patents referenced supra arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.

[0455] The present invention encompasses polynucleotides of the presentinvention that are chemically synthesized, or reproduced as peptidenucleic acids (PNA), or according to other methods known in the art. Theuse of PNAs would serve as the preferred form if the polynucleotides areincorporated onto a solid support, or gene chip. For the purposes of thepresent invention, a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is a polyamide type ofDNA analog and the monomeric units for adenine, guanine, thymine andcytosine are available commercially (Perceptive Biosystems). Certaincomponents of DNA, such as phosphorus, phosphorus oxides, or deoxyribosederivatives, are not present in PNAs. As disclosed by P. E. Nielsen, M.Egholm, R. H. Berg and 0. Buchardt, Science 254, 1497 (1991); and M.Egholm, O. Buchardt, L. Christensen, C. Behrens, S. M. Freier, D. A.Driver, R. H. Berg, S. K. Kim, B. Norden, and P. E. Nielsen, Nature 365,666 (1993), PNAs bind specifically and tightly to complementary DNAstrands and are not degraded by nucleases. In fact, PNA binds morestrongly to DNA than DNA itself does. This is probably because there isno electrostatic repulsion between the two strands, and also thepolyamide backbone is more flexible. Because of this, PNA/DNA duplexesbind under a wider range of stringency conditions than DNA/DNA duplexes,making it easier to perform multiplex hybridization. Smaller probes canbe used than with DNA due to the strong binding. In addition, it is morelikely that single base mismatches can be determined with PNA/DNAhybridization because a single mismatch in a PNA/DNA 15-mer lowers themelting point (T.sub.m) by 8°-20° C., vs. 4°-16° C. for the DNA/DNA15-mer duplex. Also, the absence of charge groups in PNA means thathybridization can be done at low ionic strengths and reduce possibleinterference by salt during the analysis.

[0456] The present invention is useful for detecting cancer in mammals.In particular the invention is useful during diagnosis of pathologicalcell proliferative neoplasias which include, but are not limited to:acute myelogenous leukemias including acute monocytic leukemia, acutemyeloblastic leukemia, acute promyelocytic leukemia, acutemyelomonocytic leukemia, acute erythroleukemia, acute megakaryocyticleukemia, and acute undifferentiated leukemia, etc.; and chronicmyelogenous leukemias including chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, chronicgranulocytic leukemia, etc. Preferred mammals include monkeys, apes,cats, dogs, cows, pigs, horses, rabbits and humans. Particularlypreferred are humans.

[0457] Pathological cell proliferative diseases, disorders, and/orconditions are often associated with inappropriate activation ofproto-oncogenes. (Gelmann, E. P. et al., “The Etiology of AcuteLeukemia: Molecular Genetics and Viral Oncology,” in Neoplastic Diseasesof the Blood, Vol 1., Wiernik, P. H. et al. eds., 161-182 (1985)).Neoplasias are now believed to result from the qualitative alteration ofa normal cellular gene product, or from the quantitative modification ofgene expression by insertion into the chromosome of a viral sequence, bychromosomal translocation of a gene to a more actively transcribedregion, or by some other mechanism. (Gelmann et al., supra) It is likelythat mutated or altered expression of specific genes is involved in thepathogenesis of some leukemias, among other tissues and cell types.(Gelmann et al., supra) Indeed, the human counterparts of the oncogenesinvolved in some animal neoplasias have been amplified or translocatedin some cases of human leukemia and carcinoma. (Gelmann et al., supra)

[0458] For example, c-myc expression is highly amplified in thenon-lymphocytic leukemia cell line HL-60. When HL-60 cells arechemically induced to stop proliferation, the level of c-myc is found tobe downregulated. (International Publication Number WO 91/15580)However, it has been shown that exposure of HL-60 cells to a DNAconstruct that is complementary to the 5′ end of c-myc or c-myb blockstranslation of the corresponding mRNAs which downregulates expression ofthe c-myc or c-myb proteins and causes arrest of cell proliferation anddifferentiation of the treated cells. (International Publication NumberWO 91/15580; Wickstrom et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 85:1028 (1988);Anfossi et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 86:3379 (1989)). However, theskilled artisan would appreciate the present invention's usefulnesswould not be limited to treatment of proliferative diseases, disorders,and/or conditions of hematopoietic cells and tissues, in light of thenumerous cells and cell types of varying origins which are known toexhibit proliferative phenotypes.

[0459] In addition to the foregoing, a polynucleotide can be used tocontrol gene expression through triple helix formation or antisense DNAor RNA. Antisense techniques are discussed, for example, in Okano, J.Neurochem. 56:560 (1991); “Oligodeoxynucleotides as Antisense Inhibitorsof Gene Expression, CRCPress, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988). Triple helixformation is discussed in, for instance Lee et al., Nucleic AcidsResearch 6:3073 (1979); Cooney et al., Science 241:456 (1988); andDervan et al., Science 251:1360 (1991). Both methods rely on binding ofthe polynucleotide to a complementary DNA or RNA. For these techniques,preferred polynucleotides are usually oligonucleotides 20 to 40 bases inlength and complementary to either the region of the gene involved intranscription (triple helix—see Lee et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 6:3073(1979); Cooney et al., Science 241:456 (1988); and Dervan et al.,Science 251:1360 (1991)) or to the mRNA itself (antisense —Okano, J.Neurochem. 56:560 (1991); Oligodeoxy-nucleotides as Antisense Inhibitorsof Gene Expression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988).) Triple helixformation optimally results in a shut-off of RNA transcription from DNA,while antisense RNA hybridization blocks translation of an mRNA moleculeinto polypeptide. Both techniques are effective in model systems, andthe information disclosed herein can be used to design antisense ortriple helix polynucleotides in an effort to treat or prevent disease.

[0460] Polynucleotides of the present invention are also useful in genetherapy. One goal of gene therapy is to insert a normal gene into anorganism having a defective gene, in an effort to correct the geneticdefect. The polynucleotides disclosed in the present invention offer ameans of targeting such genetic defects in a highly accurate manner.Another goal is to insert a new gene that was not present in the hostgenome, thereby producing a new trait in the host cell.

[0461] The polynucleotides are also useful for identifying individualsfrom minute biological samples. The United States military, for example,is considering the use of restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP) for identification of its personnel. In this technique, anindividual's genomic DNA is digested with one or more restrictionenzymes, and probed on a Southern blot to yield unique bands foridentifying personnel. This method does not suffer from the currentlimitations of “Dog Tags” which can be lost, switched, or stolen, makingpositive identification difficult. The polynucleotides of the presentinvention can be used as additional DNA markers for RFLP.

[0462] The polynucleotides of the present invention can also be used asan alternative to RFLP, by determining the actual base-by-base DNAsequence of selected portions of an individual's genome. These sequencescan be used to prepare PCR primers for amplifying and isolating suchselected DNA, which can then be sequenced. Using this technique,individuals can be identified because each individual will have a uniqueset of DNA sequences. Once an unique ID database is established for anindividual, positive identification of that individual, living or dead,can be made from extremely small tissue samples.

[0463] Forensic biology also benefits from using DNA-basedidentification techniques as disclosed herein. DNA sequences taken fromvery small biological samples such as tissues, e.g., hair or skin, orbody fluids, e.g., blood, saliva, semen, synovial fluid, amniotic fluid,breast milk, lymph, pulmonary sputum or surfactant, urine, fecal matter,etc., can be amplified using PCR. In one prior art technique, genesequences amplified from polymorphic loci, such as DQa class II HLAgene, are used in forensic biology to identify individuals. (Erlich, H.,PCR Technology, Freeman and Co. (1992).) Once these specific polymorphicloci are amplified, they are digested with one or more restrictionenzymes, yielding an identifying set of bands on a Southern blot probedwith DNA corresponding to the DQa class II HLA gene. Similarly,polynucleotides of the present invention can be used as polymorphicmarkers for forensic purposes.

[0464] There is also a need for reagents capable of identifying thesource of a particular tissue. Such need arises, for example, inforensics when presented with tissue of unknown origin. Appropriatereagents can comprise, for example, DNA probes or primers specific toparticular tissue prepared from the sequences of the present invention.Panels of such reagents can identify tissue by species and/or by organtype. In a similar fashion, these reagents can be used to screen tissuecultures for contamination.

[0465] In the very least, the polynucleotides of the present inventioncan be used as molecular weight markers on Southern gels, as diagnosticprobes for the presence of a specific mRNA in a particular cell type, asa probe to “subtract-out” known sequences in the process of discoveringnovel polynucleotides, for selecting and making oligomers for attachmentto a “gene chip” or other support, to raise anti-DNA antibodies usingDNA immunization techniques, and as an antigen to elicit an immuneresponse.

[0466] Uses of the Polypeptides

[0467] Each of the polypeptides identified herein can be used innumerous ways. The following description should be considered exemplaryand utilizes known techniques.

[0468] A polypeptide of the present invention can be used to assayprotein levels in a biological sample using antibody-based techniques.For example, protein expression in tissues can be studied with classicalimmunohistological methods. (Jalkanen, M., et al., J. Cell. Biol.101:976-985 (1985); Jalkanen, M., et al., J. Cell. Biol. 105:3087-3096(1987).) Other antibody-based methods useful for detecting protein geneexpression include immunoassays, such as the enzyme linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA) and the radioimmunoassay (RIA). Suitable antibody assaylabels are known in the art and include enzyme labels, such as, glucoseoxidase, and radioisotopes, such as iodine (125I, 121I), carbon (14C),sulfur (35S), tritium (3H), indium (112In), and technetium (99 mTc), andfluorescent labels, such as fluorescein and rhodamine, and biotin.

[0469] In addition to assaying secreted protein levels in a biologicalsample, proteins can also be detected in vivo by imaging. Antibodylabels or markers for in vivo imaging of protein include thosedetectable by X-radiography, NMR or ESR. For X-radiography, suitablelabels include radioisotopes such as barium or cesium, which emitdetectable radiation but are not overtly harmful to the subject.Suitable markers for NMR and ESR include those with a detectablecharacteristic spin, such as deuterium, which may be incorporated intothe antibody by labeling of nutrients for the relevant hybridoma.

[0470] A protein-specific antibody or antibody fragment which has beenlabeled with an appropriate detectable imaging moiety, such as aradioisotope (for example, 131I, 112In, 99 mTc), a radio-opaquesubstance, or a material detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance, isintroduced (for example, parenterally, subcutaneously, orintraperitoneally) into the mammal. It will be understood in the artthat the size of the subject and the imaging system used will determinethe quantity of imaging moiety needed to produce diagnostic images. Inthe case of a radioisotope moiety, for a human subject, the quantity ofradioactivity injected will normally range from about 5 to 20millicuries of 99 mTc. The labeled antibody or antibody fragment willthen preferentially accumulate at the location of cells which containthe specific protein. In vivo tumor imaging is described in S. W.Burchiel et al., “Immunopharmacokinetics of Radiolabeled Antibodies andTheir Fragments.” (Chapter 13 in Tumor Imaging: The RadiochemicalDetection of Cancer, S. W. Burchiel and B. A. Rhodes, eds., MassonPublishing Inc. (1982).)

[0471] Thus, the invention provides a diagnostic method of a disorder,which involves (a) assaying the expression of a polypeptide of thepresent invention in cells or body fluid of an individual; (b) comparingthe level of gene expression with a standard gene expression level,whereby an increase or decrease in the assayed polypeptide geneexpression level compared to the standard expression level is indicativeof a disorder. With respect to cancer, the presence of a relatively highamount of transcript in biopsied tissue from an individual may indicatea predisposition for the development of the disease, or may provide ameans for detecting the disease prior to the appearance of actualclinical symptoms. A more definitive diagnosis of this type may allowhealth professionals to employ preventative measures or aggressivetreatment earlier thereby preventing the development or furtherprogression of the cancer.

[0472] Moreover, polypeptides of the present invention can be used totreat, prevent, and/or diagnose disease. For example, patients can beadministered a polypeptide of the present invention in an effort toreplace absent or decreased levels of the polypeptide (e.g., insulin),to supplement absent or decreased levels of a different polypeptide(e.g., hemoglobin S for hemoglobin B, SOD, catalase, DNA repairproteins), to inhibit the activity of a polypeptide (e.g., an oncogeneor tumor supressor), to activate the activity of a polypeptide (e.g., bybinding to a receptor), to reduce the activity of a membrane boundreceptor by competing with it for free ligand (e.g., soluble TNFreceptors used in reducing inflammation), or to bring about a desiredresponse (e.g., blood vessel growth inhibition, enhancement of theimmune response to proliferative cells or tissues).

[0473] Similarly, antibodies directed to a polypeptide of the presentinvention can also be used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose disease.For example, administration of an antibody directed to a polypeptide ofthe present invention can bind and reduce overproduction of thepolypeptide. Similarly, administration of an antibody can activate thepolypeptide, such as by binding to a polypeptide bound to a membrane(receptor).

[0474] At the very least, the polypeptides of the present invention canbe used as molecular weight markers on SDS-PAGE gels or on molecularsieve gel filtration columns using methods well known to those of skillin the art. Polypeptides can also be used to raise antibodies, which inturn are used to measure protein expression from a recombinant cell, asa way of assessing transformation of the host cell. Moreover, thepolypeptides of the present invention can be used to test the followingbiological activities.

[0475] Gene Therapy Methods

[0476] Another aspect of the present invention is to gene therapymethods for treating or preventing disorders, diseases and conditions.The gene therapy methods relate to the introduction of nucleic acid(DNA, RNA and antisense DNA or RNA) sequences into an animal to achieveexpression of a polypeptide of the present invention. This methodrequires a polynucleotide which codes for a polypeptide of the inventionthat operatively linked to a promoter and any other genetic elementsnecessary for the expression of the polypeptide by the target tissue.Such gene therapy and delivery techniques are known in the art, see, forexample, WO90/11092, which is herein incorporated by reference.

[0477] Thus, for example, cells from a patient may be engineered with apolynucleotide (DNA or RNA) comprising a promoter operably linked to apolynucleotide of the invention ex vivo, with the engineered cells thenbeing provided to a patient to be treated with the polypeptide. Suchmethods are well-known in the art. For example, see Belldegrun et al.,J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 85:207-216 (1993); Ferrantini et al., CancerResearch, 53:107-1112 (1993); Ferrantini et al., J. Immunology 153:4604-4615 (1994); Kaido, T., et al., Int. J. Cancer 60: 221-229 (1995);Ogura et al., Cancer Research 50: 5102-5106 (1990); Santodonato, et al.,Human Gene Therapy 7:1-10 (1996); Santodonato, et al., Gene Therapy4:1246-1255 (1997); and Zhang, et al., Cancer Gene Therapy 3: 31-38(1996)), which are herein incorporated by reference. In one embodiment,the cells which are engineered are arterial cells. The arterial cellsmay be reintroduced into the patient through direct injection to theartery, the tissues surrounding the artery, or through catheterinjection.

[0478] As discussed in more detail below, the polynucleotide constructscan be delivered by any method that delivers injectable materials to thecells of an animal, such as, injection into the interstitial space oftissues (heart, muscle, skin, lung, liver, and the like). Thepolynucleotide constructs may be delivered in a pharmaceuticallyacceptable liquid or aqueous carrier.

[0479] In one embodiment, the polynucleotide of the invention isdelivered as a naked polynucleotide. The term “naked” polynucleotide,DNA or RNA refers to sequences that are free from any delivery vehiclethat acts to assist, promote or facilitate entry into the cell,including viral sequences, viral particles, liposome formulations,lipofectin or precipitating agents and the like. However, thepolynucleotides of the invention can also be delivered in liposomeformulations and lipofectin formulations and the like can be prepared bymethods well known to those skilled in the art. Such methods aredescribed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,593,972, 5,589,466, and5,580,859, which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0480] The polynucleotide vector constructs of the invention used in thegene therapy method are preferably constructs that will not integrateinto the host genome nor will they contain sequences that allow forreplication. Appropriate vectors include pWLNEO, pSV2CAT, pOG44, pXT1and pSG available from Stratagene; pSVK3, pBPV, pMSG and pSVL availablefrom Pharmacia; and pEF1/V5, pcDNA3.1, and pRc/CMV2 available fromInvitrogen. Other suitable vectors will be readily apparent to theskilled artisan.

[0481] Any strong promoter known to those skilled in the art can be usedfor driving the expression of polynucleotide sequence of the invention.Suitable promoters include adenoviral promoters, such as the adenoviralmajor late promoter; or heterologous promoters, such as thecytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter; the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)promoter; inducible promoters, such as the MMT promoter, themetallothionein promoter; heat shock promoters; the albumin promoter;the ApoAI promoter; human globin promoters; viral thymidine kinasepromoters, such as the Herpes Simplex thymidine kinase promoter;retroviral LTRs; the b-actin promoter; and human growth hormonepromoters. The promoter also may be the native promoter for thepolynucleotides of the invention.

[0482] Unlike other gene therapy techniques, one major advantage ofintroducing naked nucleic acid sequences into target cells is thetransitory nature of the polynucleotide synthesis in the cells. Studieshave shown that non-replicating DNA sequences can be introduced intocells to provide production of the desired polypeptide for periods of upto six months.

[0483] The polynucleotide construct of the invention can be delivered tothe interstitial space of tissues within the an animal, including ofmuscle, skin, brain, lung, liver, spleen, bone marrow, thymus, heart,lymph, blood, bone, cartilage, pancreas, kidney, gall bladder, stomach,intestine, testis, ovary, uterus, rectum, nervous system, eye, gland,and connective tissue. Interstitial space of the tissues comprises theintercellular, fluid, mucopolysaccharide matrix among the reticularfibers of organ tissues, elastic fibers in the walls of vessels orchambers, collagen fibers of fibrous tissues, or that same matrix withinconnective tissue ensheathing muscle cells or in the lacunae of bone. Itis similarly the space occupied by the plasma of the circulation and thelymph fluid of the lymphatic channels. Delivery to the interstitialspace of muscle tissue is preferred for the reasons discussed below.They may be conveniently delivered by injection into the tissuescomprising these cells. They are preferably delivered to and expressedin persistent, non-dividing cells which are differentiated, althoughdelivery and expression may be achieved in non-differentiated or lesscompletely differentiated cells, such as, for example, stem cells ofblood or skin fibroblasts. In vivo muscle cells are particularlycompetent in their ability to take up and express polynucleotides.

[0484] For the nakednucleic acid sequence injection, an effective dosageamount of DNA or RNA will be in the range of from about 0.05 mg/kg bodyweight to about 50 mg/kg body weight. Preferably the dosage will be fromabout 0.005 mg/kg to about 20 mg/kg and more preferably from about 0.05mg/kg to about 5 mg/kg. Of course, as the artisan of ordinary skill willappreciate, this dosage will vary according to the tissue site ofinjection. The appropriate and effective dosage of nucleic acid sequencecan readily be determined by those of ordinary skill in the art and maydepend on the condition being treated and the route of administration.

[0485] The preferred route of administration is by the parenteral routeof injection into the interstitial space of tissues. However, otherparenteral routes may also be used, such as, inhalation of an aerosolformulation particularly for delivery to lungs or bronchial tissues,throat or mucous membranes of the nose. In addition, naked DNAconstructs can be delivered to arteries during angioplasty by thecatheter used in the procedure.

[0486] The naked polynucleotides are delivered by any method known inthe art, including, but not limited to, direct needle injection at thedelivery site, intravenous injection, topical administration, catheterinfusion, and so-called “gene guns”. These delivery methods are known inthe art.

[0487] The constructs may also be delivered with delivery vehicles suchas viral sequences, viral particles, liposome formulations, lipofectin,precipitating agents, etc. Such methods of delivery are known in theart.

[0488] In certain embodiments, the polynucleotide constructs of theinvention are complexed in a liposome preparation. Liposomalpreparations for use in the instant invention include cationic(positively charged), anionic (negatively charged) and neutralpreparations. However, cationic liposomes are particularly preferredbecause a tight charge complex can be formed between the cationicliposome and the polyanionic nucleic acid. Cationic liposomes have beenshown to mediate intracellular delivery of plasmid DNA (Felgner et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84:7413-7416 (1987), which is hereinincorporated by reference); mRNA (Malone et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA, 86:6077-6081 (1989), which is herein incorporated by reference);and purified transcription factors (Debs et al., J. Biol. Chem.,265:10189-10192 (1990), which is herein incorporated by reference), infunctional form.

[0489] Cationic liposomes are readily available. For example,N[1-2,3-dioleyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-triethylammonium (DOTMA) liposomes areparticularly useful and are available under the trademark Lipofectin,from GIBCO BRL, Grand Island, N.Y. (See, also, Felgner et al., Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84:7413-7416 (1987), which is herein incorporatedby reference). Other commercially available liposomes includetransfectace (DDAB/DOPE) and DOTAP/DOPE (Boehringer).

[0490] Other cationic liposomes can be prepared from readily availablematerials using techniques well known in the art. See, e.g. PCTPublication NO: WO 90/11092 (which is herein incorporated by reference)for a description of the synthesis of DOTAP(1,2-bis(oleoyloxy)-3-(trimethylammonio)propane) liposomes. Preparationof DOTMA liposomes is explained in the literature, see, e.g., Feigner etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 84:7413-7417, which is hereinincorporated by reference. Similar methods can be used to prepareliposomes from other cationic lipid materials.

[0491] Similarly, anionic and neutral liposomes are readily available,such as from Avanti Polar Lipids (Birmingham, Ala.), or can be easilyprepared using readily available materials. Such materials includephosphatidyl, choline, cholesterol, phosphatidyl ethanolamine,dioleoylphosphatidyl choline (DOPC), dioleoylphosphatidyl glycerol(DOPG), dioleoylphoshatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE), among others. Thesematerials can also be mixed with the DOTMA and DOTAP starting materialsin appropriate ratios. Methods for making liposomes using thesematerials are well known in the art.

[0492] For example, commercially dioleoylphosphatidyl choline (DOPC),dioleoylphosphatidyl glycerol (DOPG), and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) can be used in various combinations to makeconventional liposomes, with or without the addition of cholesterol.Thus, for example, DOPG/DOPC vesicles can be prepared by drying 50 mgeach of DOPG and DOPC under a stream of nitrogen gas into a sonicationvial. The sample is placed under a vacuum pump overnight and is hydratedthe following day with deionized water. The sample is then sonicated for2 hours in a capped vial, using a Heat Systems model 350 sonicatorequipped with an inverted cup (bath type) probe at the maximum settingwhile the bath is circulated at 15EC. Alternatively, negatively chargedvesicles can be prepared without sonication to produce multilamellarvesicles or by extrusion through nucleopore membranes to produceunilamellar vesicles of discrete size. Other methods are known andavailable to those of skill in the art.

[0493] The liposomes can comprise multilamellar vesicles (MLVs), smallunilamellar vesicles (SUVs), or large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs), withSUVs being preferred. The various liposome-nucleic acid complexes areprepared using methods well known in the art. See, e.g., Straubinger etal., Methods of Immunology, 101:512-527 (1983), which is hereinincorporated by reference. For example, MLVs containing nucleic acid canbe prepared by depositing a thin film of phospholipid on the walls of aglass tube and subsequently hydrating with a solution of the material tobe encapsulated. SUVs are prepared by extended sonication of MLVs toproduce a homogeneous population of unilamellar liposomes. The materialto be entrapped is added to a suspension of preformed MLVs and thensonicated. When using liposomes containing cationic lipids, the driedlipid film is resuspended in an appropriate solution such as sterilewater or an isotonic buffer solution such as 10 mM Tris/NaCl, sonicated,and then the preformed liposomes are mixed directly with the DNA. Theliposome and DNA form a very stable complex due to binding of thepositively charged liposomes to the cationic DNA. SUVs find use withsmall nucleic acid fragments. LUVs are prepared by a number of methods,well known in the art. Commonly used methods include Ca²⁺-EDTA chelation(Papahadjopoulos et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 394:483 (1975); Wilsonet al., Cell, 17:77 (1979)); ether injection (Deamer et al., Biochim.Biophys. Acta, 443:629 (1976); Ostro et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res.Commun., 76:836 (1977); Fraley et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA,76:3348 (1979)); detergent dialysis (Enoch et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA, 76:145 (1979)); and reverse-phase evaporation (REV) (Fraley etal., J. Biol. Chem., 255:10431 (1980); Szoka et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA, 75:145 (1978); Schaefer-Ridder et al., Science, 215:166(1982)), which are herein incorporated by reference.

[0494] Generally, the ratio of DNA to liposomes will be from about 10:1to about 1:10. Preferably, the ration will be from about 5:1 to about1:5. More preferably, the ration will be about 3:1 to about 1:3. Stillmore preferably, the ratio will be about 1:1.

[0495] U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,954 (which is herein incorporated byreference) reports on the injection of genetic material, complexed withcationic liposomes carriers, into mice. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,897,355,4,946,787, 5,049,386, 5,459,127, 5,589,466, 5,693,622, 5,580,859,5,703,055, and international publication NO: WO 94/9469 (which areherein incorporated by reference) provide cationic lipids for use intransfecting DNA into cells and mammals. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,589,466,5,693,622, 5,580,859, 5,703,055, and international publication NO: WO94/9469 (which are herein incorporated by reference) provide methods fordelivering DNA-cationic lipid complexes to mammals.

[0496] In certain embodiments, cells are engineered, ex vivo or in vivo,using a retroviral particle containing RNA which comprises a sequenceencoding polypeptides of the invention. Retroviruses from which theretroviral plasmid vectors may be derived include, but are not limitedto, Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus, spleen necrosis virus, Rous sarcomaVirus, Harvey Sarcoma Virus, avian leukosis virus, gibbon ape leukemiavirus, human immunodeficiency virus, Myeloproliferative Sarcoma Virus,and mammary tumor virus.

[0497] The retroviral plasmid vector is employed to transduce packagingcell lines to form producer cell lines. Examples of packaging cellswhich may be transfected include, but are not limited to, the PE501,PA317, R-2, R-AM, PA12, T19-14×, VT-19-17-H2, RCRE, RCRIP, GP+E-86,GP+envAm12, and DAN cell lines as described in Miller, Human GeneTherapy, 1:5-14 (1990), which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. The vector may transduce the packaging cells through any meansknown in the art. Such means include, but are not limited to,electroporation, the use of liposomes, and CaPO₄ precipitation. In onealternative, the retroviral plasmid vector may be encapsulated into aliposome, or coupled to a lipid, and then administered to a host.

[0498] The producer cell line generates infectious retroviral vectorparticles which include polynucleotide encoding polypeptides of theinvention. Such retroviral vector particles then may be employed, totransduce eukaryotic cells, either in vitro or in vivo. The transducedeukaryotic cells will express polypeptides of the invention.

[0499] In certain other embodiments, cells are engineered, ex vivo or invivo, with polynucleotides of the invention contained in an adenovirusvector. Adenovirus can be manipulated such that it encodes and expressespolypeptides of the invention, and at the same time is inactivated interms of its ability to replicate in a normal lytic viral life cycle.Adenovirus expression is achieved without integration of the viral DNAinto the host cell chromosome, thereby alleviating concerns aboutinsertional mutagenesis. Furthermore, adenoviruses have been used aslive enteric vaccines for many years with an excellent safety profile(Schwartzet al., Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., 109:233-238 (1974)). Finally,adenovirus mediated gene transfer has been demonstrated in a number ofinstances including transfer of alpha-1-antitrypsin and CFTR to thelungs of cotton rats (Rosenfeld et al., Science, 252:431-434 (1991);Rosenfeld et al., Cell, 68:143-155 (1992)). Furthermore, extensivestudies to attempt to establish adenovirus as a causative agent in humancancer were uniformly negative (Green et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA,76:6606 (1979)).

[0500] Suitable adenoviral vectors useful in the present invention aredescribed, for example, in Kozarsky and Wilson, Curr. Opin. Genet.Devel., 3:499-503 (1993); Rosenfeld et al., Cell, 68:143-155 (1992);Engelhardt et al., Human Genet. Ther., 4:759-769 (1993); Yang et al.,Nature Genet., 7:362-369 (1994); Wilson et al., Nature, 365:691-692(1993); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,652,224, which are herein incorporated byreference. For example, the adenovirus vector Ad2 is useful and can begrown in human 293 cells. These cells contain the E1 region ofadenovirus and constitutively express E1a and E1b, which complement thedefective adenoviruses by providing the products of the genes deletedfrom the vector. In addition to Ad2, other varieties of adenovirus(e.g., Ad3, Ad5, and Ad7) are also useful in the present invention.

[0501] Preferably, the adenoviruses used in the present invention arereplication deficient. Replication deficient adenoviruses require theaid of a helper virus and/or packaging cell line to form infectiousparticles. The resulting virus is capable of infecting cells and canexpress a polynucleotide of interest which is operably linked to apromoter, but cannot replicate in most cells. Replication deficientadenoviruses may be deleted in one or more of all or a portion of thefollowing genes: E1 a, E1b, E3, E4, E2a, or L1 through L5.

[0502] In certain other embodiments, the cells are engineered, ex vivoor in vivo, using an adeno-associated virus (AAV). AAVs are naturallyoccurring defective viruses that require helper viruses to produceinfectious particles (Muzyczka, Curr. Topics in Microbiol. Immunol.,158:97 (1992)). It is also one of the few viruses that may integrate itsDNA into non-dividing cells. Vectors containing as little as 300 basepairs of AAV can be packaged and can integrate, but space for exogenousDNA is limited to about 4.5 kb. Methods for producing and using suchAAVs are known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,139,941,5,173,414, 5,354,678, 5,436,146, 5,474,935, 5,478,745, and 5,589,377.

[0503] For example, an appropriate AAV vector for use in the presentinvention will include all the sequences necessary for DNA replication,encapsidation, and host-cell integration. The polynucleotide constructcontaining polynucleotides of the invention is inserted into the AAVvector using standard cloning methods, such as those found in Sambrooket al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press(1989). The recombinant AAV vector is then transfected into packagingcells which are infected with a helper virus, using any standardtechnique, including lipofection, electroporation, calcium phosphateprecipitation, etc. Appropriate helper viruses include adenoviruses,cytomegaloviruses, vaccinia viruses, or herpes viruses. Once thepackaging cells are transfected and infected, they will produceinfectious AAV viral particles which contain the polynucleotideconstruct of the invention. These viral particles are then used totransduce eukaryotic cells, either ex vivo or in vivo. The transducedcells will contain the polynucleotide construct integrated into itsgenome, and will express the desired gene product.

[0504] Another method of gene therapy involves operably associatingheterologous control regions and endogenous polynucleotide sequences(e.g. encoding the polypeptide sequence of interest) via homologousrecombination (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,670, issued Jun. 24, 1997;International Publication NO: WO 96/29411, published Sep. 26, 1996;International Publication NO: WO 94/12650, published Aug. 4, 1994;Koller et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:8932-8935 (1989); andZijlstra et al., Nature, 342:435-438 (1989). This method involves theactivation of a gene which is present in the target cells, but which isnot normally expressed in the cells, or is expressed at a lower levelthan desired.

[0505] Polynucleotide constructs are made, using standard techniquesknown in the art, which contain the promoter with targeting sequencesflanking the promoter. Suitable promoters are described herein. Thetargeting sequence is sufficiently complementary to an endogenoussequence to permit homologous recombination of the promoter-targetingsequence with the endogenous sequence. The targeting sequence will besufficiently near the 5′ end of the desired endogenous polynucleotidesequence so the promoter will be operably linked to the endogenoussequence upon homologous recombination.

[0506] The promoter and the targeting sequences can be amplified usingPCR. Preferably, the amplified promoter contains distinct restrictionenzyme sites on the 5′ and 3′ ends. Preferably, the 3′ end of the firsttargeting sequence contains the same restriction enzyme site as the 5′end of the amplified promoter and the 5′ end of the second targetingsequence contains the same restriction site as the 3′ end of theamplified promoter. The amplified promoter and targeting sequences aredigested and ligated together.

[0507] The promoter-targeting sequence construct is delivered to thecells, either as naked polynucleotide, or in conjunction withtransfection-facilitating agents, such as liposomes, viral sequences,viral particles, whole viruses, lipofection, precipitating agents, etc.,described in more detail above. The P promoter-targeting sequence can bedelivered by any method, included direct needle injection, intravenousinjection, topical administration, catheter infusion, particleaccelerators, etc. The methods are described in more detail below.

[0508] The promoter-targeting sequence construct is taken up by cells.Homologous recombination between the construct and the endogenoussequence takes place, such that an endogenous sequence is placed underthe control of the promoter. The promoter then drives the expression ofthe endogenous sequence.

[0509] The polynucleotides encoding polypeptides of the presentinvention may be administered along with other polynucleotides encodingother angiongenic proteins. Angiogenic proteins include, but are notlimited to, acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors, VEGF-1, VEGF-2(VEGF-C), VEGF-3 (VEGF-B), epidermal growth factor alpha and beta,platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor, platelet-derived growthfactor, tumor necrosis factor alpha, hepatocyte growth factor, insulinlike growth factor, colony stimulating factor, macrophage colonystimulating factor, granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor,and nitric oxide synthase.

[0510] Preferably, the polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of theinvention contains a secretory signal sequence that facilitatessecretion of the protein. Typically, the signal sequence is positionedin the coding region of the polynucleotide to be expressed towards or atthe 5′ end of the coding region. The signal sequence may be homologousor heterologous to the polynucleotide of interest and may be homologousor heterologous to the cells to be transfected. Additionally, the signalsequence may be chemically synthesized using methods known in the art.

[0511] Any mode of administration of any of the above-describedpolynucleotides constructs can be used so long as the mode results inthe expression of one or more molecules in an amount sufficient toprovide a therapeutic effect. This includes direct needle injection,systemic injection, catheter infusion, biolistic injectors, particleaccelerators (i.e., “gene guns”), gelfoam sponge depots, othercommercially available depot materials, osmotic pumps (e.g., Alzaminipumps), oral or suppositorial solid (tablet or pill) pharmaceuticalformulations, and decanting or topical applications during surgery. Forexample, direct injection of naked calcium phosphate-precipitatedplasmid into rat liver and rat spleen or a protein-coated plasmid intothe portal vein has resulted in gene expression of the foreign gene inthe rat livers. (Kaneda et al., Science, 243:375 (1989)).

[0512] A preferred method of local administration is by directinjection. Preferably, a recombinant molecule of the present inventioncomplexed with a delivery vehicle is administered by direct injectioninto or locally within the area of arteries. Administration of acomposition locally within the area of arteries refers to injecting thecomposition centimeters and preferably, millimeters within arteries.

[0513] Another method of local administration is to contact apolynucleotide construct of the present invention in or around asurgical wound. For example, a patient can undergo surgery and thepolynucleotide construct can be coated on the surface of tissue insidethe wound or the construct can be injected into areas of tissue insidethe wound.

[0514] Therapeutic compositions useful in systemic administration,include recombinant molecules of the present invention complexed to atargeted delivery vehicle of the present invention. Suitable deliveryvehicles for use with systemic administration comprise liposomescomprising ligands for targeting the vehicle to a particular site.

[0515] Preferred methods of systemic administration, include intravenousinjection, aerosol, oral and percutaneous (topical) delivery.Intravenous injections can be performed using methods standard in theart. Aerosol delivery can also be performed using methods standard inthe art (see, for example, Stribling et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA,189:11277-11281 (1992), which is incorporated herein by reference). Oraldelivery can be performed by complexing a polynucleotide construct ofthe present invention to a carrier capable of withstanding degradationby digestive enzymes in the gut of an animal. Examples of such carriers,include plastic capsules or tablets, such as those known in the art.Topical delivery can be performed by mixing a polynucleotide constructof the present invention with a lipophilic reagent (e.g., DMSO) that iscapable of passing into the skin.

[0516] Determining an effective amount of substance to be delivered candepend upon a number of factors including, for example, the chemicalstructure and biological activity of the substance, the age and weightof the animal, the precise condition requiring treatment and itsseverity, and the route of administration. The frequency of treatmentsdepends upon a number of factors, such as the amount of polynucleotideconstructs administered per dose, as well as the health and history ofthe subject. The precise amount, number of doses, and timing of doseswill be determined by the attending physician or veterinarian.Therapeutic compositions of the present invention can be administered toany animal, preferably to mammals and birds. Preferred mammals includehumans, dogs, cats, mice, rats, rabbits sheep, cattle, horses and pigs,with humans being particularly

[0517] Biological Activities

[0518] The polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonistsof the present invention can be used in assays to test for one or morebiological activities. If these polynucleotides and polypeptides doexhibit activity in a particular assay, it is likely that thesemolecules may be involved in the diseases associated with the biologicalactivity. Thus, the polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists orantagonists could be used to treat the associated disease.

[0519] Polynucleotides, translation products and antibodiescorresponding to this gene may be useful for the diagnosis, prognosis,prevention, and/or treatment of diseases and/or disorders associatedwith the following systems.

[0520] Immune Activity

[0521] Polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating,preventing, diagnosing and/or prognosing diseases, disorders, and/orconditions of the immune system, by, for example, activating orinhibiting the proliferation, differentiation, or mobilization(chemotaxis) of immune cells. Immune cells develop through a processcalled hematopoiesis, producing myeloid (platelets, red blood cells,neutrophils, and macrophages) and lymphoid (B and T lymphocytes) cellsfrom pluripotent stem cells. The etiology of these immune diseases,disorders, and/or conditions may be genetic, somatic, such as cancer andsome autoimmune diseases, acquired (e.g., by chemotherapy or toxins), orinfectious. Moreover, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention can be used as a markeror detector of a particular immune system disease or disorder.

[0522] In another embodiment, a polypeptide of the invention, orpolynucleotides, antibodies, agonists, or antagonists corresponding tothat polypeptide, may be used to treat diseases and disorders of theimmune system and/or to inhibit or enhance an immune response generatedby cells associated with the tissue(s) in which the polypeptide of theinvention is expressed, including one, two, three, four, five, or moretissues disclosed in Table 1, column 8 (Tissue Distribution LibraryCode).

[0523] Polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating,preventing, diagnosing, and/or prognosing immunodeficiencies, includingboth congenital and acquired immunodeficiencies. Examples of B cellimmunodeficiencies in which immunoglobulin levels B cell function and/orB cell numbers are decreased include: X-linked agammaglobulinemia(Bruton's disease), X-linked infantile agammaglobulinemia, X-linkedimmunodeficiency with hyper IgM, non X-linked immunodeficiency withhyper IgM, X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP),agammaglobulinemia including congenital and acquired agammaglobulinemia,adult onset agammaglobulinemia, late-onset agammaglobulinemia,dysgammaglobulinemia, hypogammaglobulinemia, unspecifiedhypogammaglobulinemia, recessive agammaglobulinemia (Swiss type),Selective IgM deficiency, selective IgA deficiency, selective IgGsubclass deficiencies, IgG subclass deficiency (with or without IgAdeficiency), Ig deficiency with increased IgM, IgG and IgA deficiencywith increased IgM, antibody deficiency with normal or elevated Igs, Igheavy chain deletions, kappa chain deficiency, B celllymphoproliferative disorder (BLPD), common variable immunodeficiency(CVID), common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) (acquired), and transienthypogammaglobulinemia of infancy.

[0524] In specific embodiments, ataxia-telangiectasia or conditionsassociated with ataxia-telangiectasia are treated, prevented, diagnosed,and/or prognosing using the polypeptides or polynucleotides of theinvention, and/or agonists or antagonists thereof.

[0525] Examples of congenital immunodeficiencies in which T cell and/orB cell function and/or number is decreased include, but are not limitedto: DiGeorge anomaly, severe combined immunodeficiencies (SCID)(including, but not limited to, X-linked SCID, autosomal recessive SCID,adenosine deaminase deficiency, purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP)deficiency, Class II MHC deficiency (Bare lymphocyte syndrome),Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, and ataxia telangiectasia), thymic hypoplasia,third and fourth pharyngeal pouch syndrome, 22q11.2 deletion, chronicmucocutaneous candidiasis, natural killer cell deficiency (NK),idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia, immunodeficiency with predominant Tcell defect (unspecified), and unspecified immunodeficiency of cellmediated immunity.

[0526] In specific embodiments, DiGeorge anomaly or conditionsassociated with DiGeorge anomaly are treated, prevented, diagnosed,and/or prognosed using polypeptides or polynucleotides of the invention,or antagonists or agonists thereof.

[0527] Other immunodeficiencies that may be treated, prevented,diagnosed, and/or prognosed using polypeptides or polynucleotides of theinvention, and/or agonists or antagonists thereof, include, but are notlimited to, chronic granulomatous disease, Chédiak-Higashi syndrome,myeloperoxidase deficiency, leukocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenasedeficiency, X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP), leukocyteadhesion deficiency, complement component deficiencies (including C1,C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8 and/or C9 deficiencies), reticulardysgenesis, thymic alymphoplasia-aplasia, immunodeficiency with thymoma,severe congenital leukopenia, dysplasia with immunodeficiency, neonatalneutropenia, short limbed dwarfism, and Nezelof syndrome-combinedimmunodeficiency with Igs.

[0528] In a preferred embodiment, the immunodeficiencies and/orconditions associated with the immunodeficiencies recited above aretreated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed using polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention.

[0529] In a preferred embodiment polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventioncould be used as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness amongimmunodeficient individuals. In specific embodiments, polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention could be used as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness amongB cell and/or T cell immunodeficient individuals.

[0530] The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating,preventing, diagnosing and/or prognosing autoimmune disorders. Manyautoimmune disorders result from inappropriate recognition of self asforeign material by immune cells. This inappropriate recognition resultsin an immune response leading to the destruction of the host tissue.Therefore, the administration of polynucleotides and polypeptides of theinvention that can inhibit an immune response, particularly theproliferation, differentiation, or chemotaxis of T-cells, may be aneffective therapy in preventing autoimmune disorders.

[0531] Autoimmune diseases or disorders that may be treated, prevented,diagnosed and/or prognosed by polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention include, but arenot limited to, one or more of the following: systemic lupuserythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, multiplesclerosis, autoimmune thyroiditis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, autoimmunehemolytic anemia, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, autoimmunethrombocytopenia purpura, autoimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia,idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, purpura (e.g., Henloch-Scoenleinpurpura), autoimmunocytopenia, Goodpasture's syndrome, Pemphigusvulgaris, myasthenia gravis, Grave's disease (hyperthyroidism), andinsulin-resistant diabetes mellitus.

[0532] Additional disorders that are likely to have an autoimmunecomponent that may be treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed with thecompositions of the invention include, but are not limited to, type IIcollagen-induced arthritis, antiphospholipid syndrome, dermatitis,allergic encephalomyelitis, myocarditis, relapsing polychondritis,rheumatic heart disease, neuritis, uveitis ophthalmia,polyendocrinopathies, Reiter's Disease, Stiff-Man Syndrome, autoimmunepulmonary inflammation, autism, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, insulindependent diabetes mellitus, and autoimmune inflammatory eye disorders.

[0533] Additional disorders that are likely to have an autoimmunecomponent that may be treated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosedwith the compositions of the invention include, but are not limited to,scleroderma with anti-collagen antibodies (often characterized, e.g., bynucleolar and other nuclear antibodies), mixed connective tissue disease(often characterized, e.g., by antibodies to extractable nuclearantigens (e.g., ribonucleoprotein)), polymyositis (often characterized,e.g., by nonhistone ANA), pernicious anemia (often characterized, e.g.,by antiparietal cell, microsomes, and intrinsic factor antibodies),idiopathic Addison's disease (often characterized, e.g., by humoral andcell-mediated adrenal cytotoxicity, infertility (often characterized,e.g., by antispermatozoal antibodies), glomerulonephritis (oftencharacterized, e.g., by glomerular basement membrane antibodies orimmune complexes), bullous pemphigoid (often characterized, e.g., by IgGand complement in basement membrane), Sjogren's syndrome (oftencharacterized, e.g., by multiple tissue antibodies, and/or a specificnonhistone ANA (SS-B)), diabetes mellitus (often characterized, e.g., bycell-mediated and humoral islet cell antibodies), and adrenergic drugresistance (including adrenergic drug resistance with asthma or cysticfibrosis) (often characterized, e.g., by beta-adrenergic receptorantibodies).

[0534] Additional disorders that may have an autoimmune component thatmay be treated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed with thecompositions of the invention include, but are not limited to, chronicactive hepatitis (often characterized, e.g., by smooth muscleantibodies), primary biliary cirrhosis (often characterized, e.g., bymitochondria antibodies), other endocrine gland failure (oftencharacterized, e.g., by specific tissue antibodies in some cases),vitiligo (often characterized, e.g., by melanocyte antibodies),vasculitis (often characterized, e.g., by Ig and complement in vesselwalls and/or low serum complement), post-MI (often characterized, e.g.,by myocardial antibodies), cardiotomy syndrome (often characterized,e.g., by myocardial antibodies), urticaria (often characterized, e.g.,by IgG and IgM antibodies to IgE), atopic dermatitis (oftencharacterized, e.g., by IgG and IgM antibodies to IgE), asthma (oftencharacterized, e.g., by IgG and IgM antibodies to IgE), and many otherinflammatory, granulomatous, degenerative, and atrophic disorders.

[0535] In a preferred embodiment, the autoimmune diseases and disordersand/or conditions associated with the diseases and disorders recitedabove are treated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed using forexample, antagonists or agonists, polypeptides or polynucleotides, orantibodies of the present invention. In a specific preferred embodiment,rheumatoid arthritis is treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed usingpolynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention.

[0536] In another specific preferred embodiment, systemic lupuserythematosus is treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed usingpolynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention. In another specific preferredembodiment, idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura is treated, prevented,and/or diagnosed using polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention.

[0537] In another specific preferred embodiment IgA nephropathy istreated, prevented, and/or diagnosed using polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention.

[0538] In a preferred embodiment, the autoimmune diseases and disordersand/or conditions associated with the diseases and disorders recitedabove are treated, prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed usingpolynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention

[0539] In preferred embodiments, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a immunosuppressive agent(s).

[0540] Polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating,preventing, prognosing, and/or diagnosing diseases, disorders, and/orconditions of hematopoietic cells. Polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventioncould be used to increase differentiation and proliferation ofhematopoietic cells, including the pluripotent stem cells, in an effortto treat or prevent those diseases, disorders, and/or conditionsassociated with a decrease in certain (or many) types hematopoieticcells, including but not limited to, leukopenia, neutropenia, anemia,and thrombocytopenia. Alternatively, Polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventioncould be used to increase differentiation and proliferation ofhematopoietic cells, including the pluripotent stem cells, in an effortto treat or prevent those diseases, disorders, and/or conditionsassociated with an increase in certain (or many) types of hematopoieticcells, including but not limited to, histiocytosis.

[0541] Allergic reactions and conditions, such as asthma (particularlyallergic asthma) or other respiratory problems, may also be treated,prevented, diagnosed and/or prognosed using polypeptides, antibodies, orpolynucleotides of the invention, and/or agonists or antagoniststhereof. Moreover, these molecules can be used to treat, prevent,prognose, and/or diagnose anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity to an antigenicmolecule, or blood group incompatibility.

[0542] Additionally, polypeptides or polynucleotides of the invention,and/or agonists or antagonists thereof, may be used to treat, prevent,diagnose and/or prognose IgE-mediated allergic reactions. Such allergicreactions include, but are not limited to, asthma, rhinitis, and eczema.In specific embodiments, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention may be used tomodulate IgE concentrations in vitro or in vivo.

[0543] Moreover, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention have uses in thediagnosis, prognosis, prevention, and/or treatment of inflammatoryconditions. For example, since polypeptides, antibodies, orpolynucleotides of the invention, and/or agonists or antagonists of theinvention may inhibit the activation, proliferation and/ordifferentiation of cells involved in an inflammatory response, thesemolecules can be used to prevent and/or treat chronic and acuteinflammatory conditions. Such inflammatory conditions include, but arenot limited to, for example, inflammation associated with infection(e.g., septic shock, sepsis, or systemic inflammatory responsesyndrome), ischemia-reperfusion injury, endotoxin lethality,complement-mediated hyperacute rejection, nephritis, cytokine orchemokine induced lung injury, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn'sdisease, over production of cytokines (e.g., TNF or IL-1.), respiratorydisorders (e.g., asthma and allergy); gastrointestinal disorders (e.g.,inflammatory bowel disease); cancers (e.g., gastric, ovarian, lung,bladder, liver, and breast); CNS disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis;ischemic brain injury and/or stroke, traumatic brain injury,neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer'sdisease); AIDS-related dementia; and prion disease); cardiovasculardisorders (e.g., atherosclerosis, myocarditis, cardiovascular disease,and cardiopulmonary bypass complications); as well as many additionaldiseases, conditions, and disorders that are characterized byinflammation (e.g., hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, trauma,pancreatitis, sarcoidosis, dermatitis, renal ischemia-reperfusioninjury, Grave's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetesmellitus, and allogenic transplant rejection).

[0544] Because inflammation is a fundamental defense mechanism,inflammatory disorders can effect virtually any tissue of the body.Accordingly, polynucleotides, polypeptides, and antibodies of theinvention, as well as agonists or antagonists thereof, have uses in thetreatment of tissue-specific inflammatory disorders, including, but notlimited to, adrenalitis, alveolitis, angiocholecystitis, appendicitis,balanitis, blepharitis, bronchitis, bursitis, carditis, cellulitis,cervicitis, cholecystitis, chorditis, cochlitis, colitis,conjunctivitis, cystitis, dermatitis, diverticulitis, encephalitis,endocarditis, esophagitis, eustachitis, fibrositis, folliculitis,gastritis, gastroenteritis, gingivitis, glossitis, hepatosplenitis,keratitis, labyrinthitis, laryngitis, lymphangitis, mastitis, mediaotitis, meningitis, metritis, mucitis, myocarditis, myosititis,myringitis, nephritis, neuritis, orchitis, osteochondritis, otitis,pericarditis, peritendonitis, peritonitis, pharyngitis, phlebitis,poliomyelitis, prostatitis, pulpitis, retinitis, rhinitis, salpingitis,scleritis, sclerochoroiditis, scrotitis, sinusitis, spondylitis,steatitis, stomatitis, synovitis, syringitis, tendonitis, tonsillitis,urethritis, and vaginitis.

[0545] In specific embodiments, polypeptides, antibodies, orpolynucleotides of the invention, and/or agonists or antagoniststhereof, are useful to diagnose, prognose, prevent, and/or treat organtransplant rejections and graft-versus-host disease. Organ rejectionoccurs by host immune cell destruction of the transplanted tissuethrough an immune response. Similarly, an immune response is alsoinvolved in GVHD, but, in this case, the foreign transplanted immunecells destroy the host tissues. Polypeptides, antibodies, orpolynucleotides of the invention, and/or agonists or antagoniststhereof, that inhibit an immune response, particularly the activation,proliferation, differentiation, or chemotaxis of T-cells, may be aneffective therapy in preventing organ rejection or GVHD. In specificembodiments, polypeptides, antibodies, or polynucleotides of theinvention, and/or agonists or antagonists thereof, that inhibit animmune response, particularly the activation, proliferation,differentiation, or chemotaxis of T-cells, may be an effective therapyin preventing experimental allergic and hyperacute xenograft rejection.

[0546] In other embodiments, polypeptides, antibodies, orpolynucleotides of the invention, and/or agonists or antagoniststhereof, are useful to diagnose, prognose, prevent, and/or treat immunecomplex diseases, including, but not limited to, serum sickness, poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, polyarteritis nodosa, and immunecomplex-induced vasculitis.

[0547] Polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/or agonists orantagonists of the invention can be used to treat, detect, and/orprevent infectious agents. For example, by increasing the immuneresponse, particularly increasing the proliferation activation and/ordifferentiation of B and/or T cells, infectious diseases may be treated,detected, and/or prevented. The immune response may be increased byeither enhancing an existing immune response, or by initiating a newimmune response. Alternatively, polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention mayalso directly inhibit the infectious agent (refer to section ofapplication listing infectious agents, etc), without necessarilyeliciting an immune response.

[0548] In another embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotidesand/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention are used as avaccine adjuvant that enhances immune responsiveness to an antigen. In aspecific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention are used as an adjuvantto enhance tumor-specific immune responses.

[0549] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an adjuvant to enhance anti-viral immune responses.Anti-viral immune responses that may be enhanced using the compositionsof the invention as an adjuvant, include virus and virus associateddiseases or symptoms described herein or otherwise known in the art. Inspecific embodiments, the compositions of the invention are used as anadjuvant to enhance an immune response to a virus, disease, or symptomselected from the group consisting of: AIDS, meningitis, Dengue, EBV,and hepatitis (e.g., hepatitis B). In another specific embodiment, thecompositions of the invention are used as an adjuvant to enhance animmune response to a virus, disease, or symptom selected from the groupconsisting of: HIV/AIDS, respiratory syncytial virus, Dengue, rotavirus,Japanese B encephalitis, influenza A and B, parainfluenza, measles,cytomegalovirus, rabies, Junin, Chikungunya, Rift Valley Fever, herpessimplex, and yellow fever.

[0550] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an adjuvant to enhance anti-bacterial or anti-fungal immuneresponses. Anti-bacterial or anti-fungal immune responses that may beenhanced using the compositions of the invention as an adjuvant, includebacteria or fungus and bacteria or fungus associated diseases orsymptoms described herein or otherwise known in the art. In specificembodiments, the compositions of the invention are used as an adjuvantto enhance an immune response to a bacteria or fungus, disease, orsymptom selected from the group consisting of: tetanus, Diphtheria,botulism, and meningitis type B.

[0551] In another specific embodiment, the compositions of the inventionare used as an adjuvant to enhance an immune response to a bacteria orfungus, disease, or symptom selected from the group consisting of:Vibrio cholerae, Mycobacterium leprae, Salmonella typhi, Salmonellaparatyphi, Meisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Group Bstreptococcus, Shigella spp., Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli,Enterohemorrhagic E. coli, and Borrelia burgdorferi.

[0552] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an adjuvant to enhance anti-parasitic immune responses.Anti-parasitic immune responses that may be enhanced using thecompositions of the invention as an adjuvant, include parasite andparasite associated diseases or symptoms described herein or otherwiseknown in the art. In specific embodiments, the compositions of theinvention are used as an adjuvant to enhance an immune response to aparasite. In another specific embodiment, the compositions of theinvention are used as an adjuvant to enhance an immune response toPlasmodium (malaria) or Leishmania.

[0553] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionmay also be employed to treat infectious diseases including silicosis,sarcoidosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; for example, bypreventing the recruitment and activation of mononuclear phagocytes.

[0554] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an antigen for the generation of antibodies to inhibit orenhance immune mediated responses against polypeptides of the invention.

[0555] In one embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotidesand/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention are administeredto an animal (e.g., mouse, rat, rabbit, hamster, guinea pig, pigs,micro-pig, chicken, camel, goat, horse, cow, sheep, dog, cat, non-humanprimate, and human, most preferably human) to boost the immune system toproduce increased quantities of one or more antibodies (e.g., IgG, IgA,IgM, and IgE), to induce higher affinity antibody production andimmunoglobulin class switching (e.g., IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE), and/or toincrease an immune response.

[0556] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a stimulator of B cell responsiveness to pathogens.

[0557] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an activator of T cells.

[0558] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent that elevates the immune status of an individualprior to their receipt of immunosuppressive therapies.

[0559] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent to induce higher affinity antibodies.

[0560] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent to increase serum immunoglobulin concentrations.

[0561] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent to accelerate recovery of immunocompromisedindividuals.

[0562] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among agedpopulations and/or neonates.

[0563] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an immune system enhancer prior to, during, or after bonemarrow transplant and/or other transplants (e.g., allogeneic orxenogeneic organ transplantation). With respect to transplantation,compositions of the invention may be administered prior to, concomitantwith, and/or after transplantation. In a specific embodiment,compositions of the invention are administered after transplantation,prior to the beginning of recovery of T-cell populations. In anotherspecific embodiment, compositions of the invention are firstadministered after transplantation after the beginning of recovery of Tcell populations, but prior to full recovery of B cell populations.

[0564] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among individualshaving an acquired loss of B cell function. Conditions resulting in anacquired loss of B cell function that may be ameliorated or treated byadministering the polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/oragonists or antagonists thereof, include, but are not limited to, HIVInfection, AIDS, bone marrow transplant, and B cell chronic lymphocyticleukemia (CLL).

[0565] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among individualshaving a temporary immune deficiency. Conditions resulting in atemporary immune deficiency that may be ameliorated or treated byadministering the polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/oragonists or antagonists thereof, include, but are not limited to,recovery from viral infections (e.g., influenza), conditions associatedwith malnutrition, recovery from infectious mononucleosis, or conditionsassociated with stress, recovery from measles, recovery from bloodtransfusion, and recovery from surgery.

[0566] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a regulator of antigen presentation by monocytes, dendriticcells, and/or B-cells. In one embodiment, polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionenhance antigen presentation or antagonizes antigen presentation invitro or in vivo. Moreover, in related embodiments, said enhancement orantagonism of antigen presentation may be useful as an anti-tumortreatment or to modulate the immune system.

[0567] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as an agent to direct an individual's immune system towardsdevelopment of a humoral response (i.e. TH2) as opposed to a TH1cellular response.

[0568] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a means to induce tumor proliferation and thus make it moresusceptible to anti-neoplastic agents. For example, multiple myeloma isa slowly dividing disease and is thus refractory to virtually allanti-neoplastic regimens. If these cells were forced to proliferate morerapidly their susceptibility profile would likely change.

[0569] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a stimulator of B cell production in pathologies such asAIDS, chronic lymphocyte disorder and/or Common VariableImmunodificiency.

[0570] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a therapy for generation and/or regeneration of lymphoidtissues following surgery, trauma or genetic defect. In another specificembodiment, polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention are used in the pretreatment ofbone marrow samples prior to transplant.

[0571] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a gene-based therapy for genetically inherited disordersresulting in immuno-incompetence/immunodeficiency such as observed amongSCID patients.

[0572] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a means of activating monocytes/macrophages to defendagainst parasitic diseases that effect monocytes such as Leishmania.

[0573] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a means of regulating secreted cytokines that are elicitedby polypeptides of the invention.

[0574] In another embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotidesand/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention are used in oneor more of the applications decribed herein, as they may apply toveterinary medicine.

[0575] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a means of blocking various aspects of immune responses toforeign agents or self. Examples of diseases or conditions in whichblocking of certain aspects of immune responses may be desired includeautoimmune disorders such as lupus, and arthritis, as well asimmunoresponsiveness to skin allergies, inflammation, bowel disease,injury and diseases/disorders associated with pathogens.

[0576] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a therapy for preventing the B cell proliferation and Igsecretion associated with autoimmune diseases such as idiopathicthrombocytopenic purpura, systemic lupus erythematosus and multiplesclerosis.

[0577] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a inhibitor of B and/or T cell migration in endothelialcells. This activity disrupts tissue architecture or cognate responsesand is useful, for example in disrupting immune responses, and blockingsepsis.

[0578] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a therapy for chronic hypergammaglobulinemia evident in suchdiseases as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS),Waldenstrom's disease, related idiopathic monoclonal gammopathies, andplasmacytomas.

[0579] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionmay be employed for instance to inhibit polypeptide chemotaxis andactivation of macrophages and their precursors, and of neutrophils,basophils, B lymphocytes and some T-cell subsets, e.g., activated andCD8 cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells, in certain autoimmuneand chronic inflammatory and infective diseases. Examples of autoimmunediseases are described herein and include multiple sclerosis, andinsulin-dependent diabetes.

[0580] The polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may also be employed to treatidiopathic hyper-eosinophilic syndrome by, for example, preventingeosinophil production and migration.

[0581] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used to enhance or inhibit complement mediated cell lysis.

[0582] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used to enhance or inhibit antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity.

[0583] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionmay also be employed for treating atherosclerosis, for example, bypreventing monocyte infiltration in the artery wall.

[0584] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionmay be employed to treat adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

[0585] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionmay be useful for stimulating wound and tissue repair, stimulatingangiogenesis, and/or stimulating the repair of vascular or lymphaticdiseases or disorders. Additionally, agonists and antagonists of theinvention may be used to stimulate the regeneration of mucosal surfaces.

[0586] In a specific embodiment, polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/oragonists thereof are used to diagnose, prognose, treat, and/or prevent adisorder characterized by primary or acquired immunodeficiency,deficient serum immunoglobulin production, recurrent infections, and/orimmune system dysfunction. Moreover, polynucleotides or polypeptides,and/or agonists thereof may be used to treat or prevent infections ofthe joints, bones, skin, and/or parotid glands, blood-borne infections(e.g., sepsis, meningitis, septic arthritis, and/or osteomyelitis),autoimmune diseases (e.g., those disclosed herein), inflammatorydisorders, and malignancies, and/or any disease or disorder or conditionassociated with these infections, diseases, disorders and/ormalignancies) including, but not limited to, CVID, other primary immunedeficiencies, HIV disease, CLL, recurrent bronchitis, sinusitis, otitismedia, conjunctivitis, pneumonia, hepatitis, meningitis, herpes zoster(e.g., severe herpes zoster), and/or pneumocystis carnii. Other diseasesand disorders that may be prevented, diagnosed, prognosed, and/ortreated with polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists of thepresent invention include, but are not limited to, HIV infection,HTLV-BLV infection, lymphopenia, phagocyte bactericidal dysfunctionanemia, thrombocytopenia, and hemoglobinuria.

[0587] In another embodiment, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention are used totreat, and/or diagnose an individual having common variableimmunodeficiency disease (“CVID”; also known as “acquiredagammaglobulinemia” and “acquired hypogammaglobulinemia”) or a subset ofthis disease.

[0588] In a specific embodiment, polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe used to diagnose, prognose, prevent, and/or treat cancers orneoplasms including immune cell or immune tissue-related cancers orneoplasms. Examples of cancers or neoplasms that may be prevented,diagnosed, or treated by polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention include, but arenot limited to, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenousleukemia, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, acute lymphocyticanemia (ALL) Chronic lymphocyte leukemia, plasmacytomas, multiplemyeloma, Burkitt's lymphoma, EBV-transformed diseases, and/or diseasesand disorders described in the section entitled “HyperproliferativeDisorders” elsewhere herein.

[0589] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a therapy for decreasing cellular proliferation of LargeB-cell Lymphomas.

[0590] In another specific embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies,polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonists of the present inventionare used as a means of decreasing the involvement of B cells and Igassociated with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.

[0591] In specific embodiments, the compositions of the invention areused as an agent to boost immunoresponsiveness among B cellimmunodeficient individuals, such as, for example, an individual who hasundergone a partial or complete splenectomy.

[0592] Antagonists of the invention include, for example, binding and/orinhibitory antibodies, antisense nucleic acids, ribozymes or solubleforms of the polypeptides of the present invention (e.g., Fc fusionprotein; see, e.g., Example 9). Agonists of the invention include, forexample, binding or stimulatory antibodies, and soluble forms of thepolypeptides (e.g., Fc fusion proteins; see, e.g., Example 9).polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonistsof the present invention may be employed in a composition with apharmaceutically acceptable carrier, e.g., as described herein.

[0593] In another embodiment, polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotidesand or agonists or antagonists of the present invention are administeredto an animal (including, but not limited to, those listed above, andalso including transgenic animals) incapable of producing functionalendogenous antibody molecules or having an otherwise compromisedendogenous immune system, but which is capable of producing humanimmunoglobulin molecules by means of a reconstituted or partiallyreconstituted immune system from another animal (see, e.g., publishedPCT Application Nos. WO98/24893, WO/9634096, WO/9633735, andWO/9110741). Administration of polypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotidesand/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention to such animalsis useful for the generation of monoclonal antibodies against thepolypeptides, antibodies, polynucleotides and/or agonists or antagonistsof the present invention in an organ system listed above.

[0594] Blood-Related Disorders

[0595] The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be used to modulate hemostatic(the stopping of bleeding) or thrombolytic (clot dissolving) activity.For example, by increasing hemostatic or thrombolytic activity,polynucleotides or polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of thepresent invention could be used to treat or prevent blood coagulationdiseases, disorders, and/or conditions (e.g., afibrinogenemia, factordeficiencies, hemophilia), blood platelet diseases, disorders, and/orconditions (e.g., thrombocytopenia), or wounds resulting from trauma,surgery, or other causes. Alternatively, polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention thatcan decrease hemostatic or thrombolytic activity could be used toinhibit or dissolve clotting. These molecules could be important in thetreatment or prevention of heart attacks (infarction), strokes, orscarring.

[0596] In specific embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe used to prevent, diagnose, prognose, and/or treat thrombosis,arterial thrombosis, venous thrombosis, thromboembolism, pulmonaryembolism, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, transient ischemicattack, unstable angina. In specific embodiments, the polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention may be used for the prevention of occulsion of saphenousgrafts, for reducing the risk of periprocedural thrombosis as mightaccompany angioplasty procedures, for reducing the risk of stroke inpatients with atrial fibrillation including nonrheumatic atrialfibrillation, for reducing the risk of embolism associated withmechanical heart valves and or mitral valves disease. Other uses for thepolynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention, include, but are not limited to,the prevention of occlusions in extrcorporeal devices (e.g.,intravascular canulas, vascular access shunts in hemodialysis patients,hemodialysis machines, and cardiopulmonary bypass machines).

[0597] In another embodiment, a polypeptide of the invention, orpolynucleotides, antibodies, agonists, or antagonists corresponding tothat polypeptide, may be used to prevent, diagnose, prognose, and/ortreat diseases and disorders of the blood and/or blood forming organsassociated with the tissue(s) in which the polypeptide of the inventionis expressed, including one, two, three, four, five, or more tissuesdisclosed in Table 1, column 8 (Tissue Distribution Library Code).

[0598] The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be used to modulatehematopoietic activity (the formation of blood cells). For example, thepolynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be used to increase thequantity of all or subsets of blood cells, such as, for example,erythrocytes, lymphocytes (B or T cells), myeloid cells (e.g.,basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, mast cells, macrophages) andplatelets. The ability to decrease the quantity of blood cells orsubsets of blood cells may be useful in the prevention, detection,diagnosis and/or treatment of anemias and leukopenias described below.Alternatively, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention may be used to decreasethe quantity of all or subsets of blood cells, such as, for example,erythrocytes, lymphocytes (B or T cells), myeloid cells (e.g.,basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, mast cells, macrophages) andplatelets. The ability to decrease the quantity of blood cells orsubsets of blood cells may be useful in the prevention, detection,diagnosis and/or treatment of leukocytoses, such as, for exampleeosinophilia.

[0599] The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be used to prevent, treat, ordiagnose blood dyscrasia.

[0600] Anemias are conditions in which the number of red blood cells oramount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in them is belownormal. Anemia may be caused by excessive bleeding, decreased red bloodcell production, or increased red blood cell destruction (hemolysis).The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating,preventing, and/or diagnosing anemias. Anemias that may be treatedprevented or diagnosed by the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention include irondeficiency anemia, hypochromic anemia, microcytic anemia, chlorosis,hereditary siderob; astic anemia, idiopathic acquired sideroblasticanemia, red cell aplasia, megaloblastic anemia (e.g., pernicious anemia,(vitamin B12 deficiency) and folic acid deficiency anemia), aplasticanemia, hemolytic anemias (e.g., autoimmune helolytic anemia,microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and paroxysmal nocturnalhemoglobinuria). The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful intreating, preventing, and/or diagnosing anemias associated with diseasesincluding but not limited to, anemias associated with systemic lupuserythematosus, cancers, lymphomas, chronic renal disease, and enlargedspleens. The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonistsor antagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating,preventing, and/or diagnosing anemias arising from drug treatments suchas anemias associated with methyldopa, dapsone, and/or sulfadrugs.Additionally, rhe polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful intreating, preventing, and/or diagnosing anemias associated with abnormalred blood cell architecture including but not limited to, hereditaryspherocytosis, hereditary elliptocytosis, glucose-6-phosphatedehydrogenase deficiency, and sickle cell anemia.

[0601] The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in treating,preventing, and/or diagnosing hemoglobin abnormalities, (e.g., thoseassociated with sickle cell anemia, hemoglobin C disease, hemoglobin S-Cdisease, and hemoglobin E disease). Additionally, the polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/ortreating thalassemias, including, but not limited to major and minorforms of alpha-thalassemia and beta-thalassemia.

[0602] In another embodiment, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treatingbleeding disorders including, but not limited to, thrombocytopenia(e.g., idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and thromboticthrombocytopenic purpura), Von Willebrand's disease, hereditary plateletdisorders (e.g., storage pool disease such as Chediak-Higashi andHermansky-Pudlak syndromes, thromboxane A2 dysfunction, thromboasthenia,and Bemard-Soulier syndrome), hemolytic-uremic syndrome, hemopheliassuch as hemophelia A or Factor VII deficiency and Christmas disease orFactor IX deficiency, Hereditary Hemorhhagic Telangiectsia, also knownas Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome, allergic purpura (Henoch Schonleinpurpura) and disseminated intravascular coagulation.

[0603] The effect of the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention on the clottingtime of blood may be monitored using any of the clotting tests known inthe art including, but not limited to, whole blood partialthromboplastin time (PTT), the activated partial thromboplastin time(aPTT), the activated clotting time (ACT), the recalcified activatedclotting time, or the Lee-White Clotting time.

[0604] Several diseases and a variety of drugs can cause plateletdysfunction. Thus, in a specific embodiment, the polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/ortreating acquired platelet dysfunction such as platelet dysfunctionaccompanying kidney failure, leukemia, multiple myeloma, cirrhosis ofthe liver, and systemic lupus erythematosus as well as plateletdysfunction associated with drug treatments, including treatment withaspirin, ticlopidine, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (used forarthritis, pain, and sprains), and penicillin in high doses.

[0605] In another embodiment, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treatingdiseases and disorders characterized by or associated with increased ordecreased numbers of white blood cells. Leukopenia occurs when thenumber of white blood cells decreases below normal. Leukopenias include,but are not limited to, neutropenia and lymphocytopenia. An increase inthe number of white blood cells compared to normal is known asleukocytosis. The body generates increased numbers of white blood cellsduring infection. Thus, leukocytosis may simply be a normalphysiological parameter that reflects infection. Alternatively,leukocytosis may be an indicator of injury or other disease such ascancer. Leokocytoses, include but are not limited to, eosinophilia, andaccumulations of macrophages. In specific embodiments, thepolynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in diagnosing,prognosing, preventing, and/or treating leukopenia. In other specificembodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful indiagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treating leukocytosis.

[0606] Leukopenia may be a generalized decreased in all types of whiteblood cells, or may be a specific depletion of particular types of whiteblood cells. Thus, in specific embodiments, the polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention may be useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/ortreating decreases in neutrophil numbers, known as neutropenia.Neutropenias that may be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treatedby the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention include, but are not limited to,infantile genetic agranulocytosis, familial neutropenia, cyclicneutropenia, neutropenias resulting from or associated with dietarydeficiencies (e.g., vitamin B 12 deficiency or folic acid deficiency),neutropenias resulting from or associated with drug treatments (e.g.,antibiotic regimens such as penicillin treatment, sulfonamide treatment,anticoagulant treatment, anticonvulsant drugs, anti-thyroid drugs, andcancer chemotherapy), and neutropenias resulting from increasedneutrophil destruction that may occur in association with some bacterialor viral infections, allergic disorders, autoimmune diseases, conditionsin which an individual has an enlarged spleen (e.g., Felty syndrome,malaria and sarcoidosis), and some drug treatment regimens.

[0607] The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in diagnosing,prognosing, preventing, and/or treating lymphocytopenias (decreasednumbers of B and/or T lymphocytes), including, but not limitedlymphocytopenias resulting from or associated with stress, drugtreatments (e.g., drug treatment with corticosteroids, cancerchemotherapies, and/or radiation therapies), AIDS infection and/or otherdiseases such as, for example, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, systemiclupus erythematosus, chronic infections, some viral infections and/orhereditary disorders (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich Syndome,severe combined immunodeficiency, ataxia telangiectsia).

[0608] The polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be useful in diagnosing,prognosing, preventing, and/or treating diseases and disordersassociated with macrophage numbers and/or macrophage function including,but not limited to, Gaucher's disease, Niemann-Pick disease,Letterer-Siwe disease and Hand-Schuller-Christian disease.

[0609] In another embodiment, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treatingdiseases and disorders associated with eosinophil numbers and/oreosinophil function including, but not limited to, idiopathichypereosinophilic syndrome, eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, andHand-Schuller-Christian disease.

[0610] In yet another embodiment, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treatingleukemias and lymphomas including, but not limited to, acute lymphocytic(lymphpblastic) leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid (myelocytic, myelogenous,myeloblastic, or myelomonocytic) leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia(e.g., B cell leukemias, T cell leukemias, Sezary syndrome, and Hairycell leukenia), chronic myelocytic (myeloid, myelogenous, orgranulocytic) leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non-hodgkin's lymphoma,Burkitt's lymphoma, and mycosis fungoides.

[0611] In other embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe useful in diagnosing, prognosing, preventing, and/or treatingdiseases and disorders of plasma cells including, but not limited to,plasma cell dyscrasias, monoclonal gammaopathies, monoclonalgammopathies of undetermined significance, multiple myeloma,macroglobulinemia, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, cryoglobulinemia,and Raynaud's phenomenon.

[0612] In other embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe useful in treating, preventing, and/or diagnosing myeloproliferativedisorders, including but not limited to, polycythemia vera, relativepolycythemia, secondary polycythemia, myelofibrosis, acutemyelofibrosis, agnogenic myelod metaplasia, thrombocythemia, (includingboth primary and seconday thrombocythemia) and chronic myelocyticleukemia.

[0613] In other embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe useful as a treatment prior to surgery, to increase blood cellproduction.

[0614] In other embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe useful as an agent to enhance the migration, phagocytosis, superoxideproduction, antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity of neutrophils,eosionophils and macrophages.

[0615] In other embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe useful as an agent to increase the number of stem cells incirculation prior to stem cells pheresis. In another specificembodiment, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/oragonists or antagonists of the present invention may be useful as anagent to increase the number of stem cells in circulation prior toplatelet pheresis.

[0616] In other embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe useful as an agent to increase cytokine production.

[0617] In other embodiments, the polynucleotides, polypeptides,antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention maybe useful in preventing, diagnosing, and/or treating primaryhematopoietic disorders.

[0618] Hyperproliferative Disorders

[0619] In certain embodiments, polynucleotides or polypeptides, oragonists or antagonists of the present invention can be used to treat ordetect hyperproliferative disorders, including neoplasms.Polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of thepresent invention may inhibit the proliferation of the disorder throughdirect or indirect interactions. Alternatively, Polynucleotides orpolypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present invention mayproliferate other cells which can inhibit the hyperproliferativedisorder.

[0620] For example, by increasing an immune response, particularlyincreasing antigenic qualities of the hyperproliferative disorder or byproliferating, differentiating, or mobilizing T-cells,hyperproliferative disorders can be treated. This immune response may beincreased by either enhancing an existing immune response, or byinitiating a new immune response. Alternatively, decreasing an immuneresponse may also be a method of treating hyperproliferative disorders,such as a chemotherapeutic agent.

[0621] Examples of hyperproliferative disorders that can be treated ordetected by polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonistsof the present invention include, but are not limited to neoplasmslocated in the: colon, abdomen, bone, breast, digestive system, liver,pancreas, peritoneum, endocrine glands (adrenal, parathyroid, pituitary,testicles, ovary, thymus, thyroid), eye, head and neck, nervous (centraland peripheral), lymphatic system, pelvis, skin, soft tissue, spleen,thorax, and urogenital tract.

[0622] Similarly, other hyperproliferative disorders can also be treatedor detected by polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists orantagonists of the present invention. Examples of suchhyperproliferative disorders include, but are not limited to: AcuteChildhood Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, AcuteLymphocytic Leukemia, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Adrenocortical Carcinoma,Adult (Primary) Hepatocellular Cancer, Adult (Primary) Liver Cancer,Adult Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia, AdultHodgkin's Disease, Adult Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Adult Lymphocytic Leukemia,Adult Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Adult Primary Liver Cancer, Adult SoftTissue Sarcoma, AIDS-Related Lymphoma, AIDS-Related Malignancies, AnalCancer, Astrocytoma, Bile Duct Cancer, Bladder Cancer, Bone Cancer,Brain Stem Glioma, Brain Tumors, Breast Cancer, Cancer of the RenalPelvis and Ureter, Central Nervous System (Primary) Lymphoma, CentralNervous System Lymphoma, Cerebellar Astrocytoma, Cerebral Astrocytoma,Cervical Cancer, Childhood (Primary) Hepatocellular Cancer, Childhood(Primary) Liver Cancer, Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia,Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Childhood Brain Stem Glioma, ChildhoodCerebellar Astrocytoma, Childhood Cerebral Astrocytoma, ChildhoodExtracranial Germ Cell Tumors, Childhood Hodgkin's Disease, ChildhoodHodgkin's Lymphoma, Childhood Hypothalamic and Visual Pathway Glioma,Childhood Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Childhood Medulloblastoma, ChildhoodNon-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Childhood Pineal and Supratentorial PrimitiveNeuroectodermal Tumors, Childhood Primary Liver Cancer, ChildhoodRhabdomyosarcoma, Childhood Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Childhood VisualPathway and Hypothalamic Glioma, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, ChronicMyelogenous Leukemia, Colon Cancer, Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma, EndocrinePancreas Islet Cell Carcinoma, Endometrial Cancer, Ependymoma,Epithelial Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Ewing's Sarcoma and RelatedTumors, Exocrine Pancreatic Cancer, Extracranial Germ Cell Tumor,Extragonadal Germ Cell Tumor, Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer, Eye Cancer,Female Breast Cancer, Gaucher's Disease, Gallbladder Cancer, GastricCancer, Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumor, Gastrointestinal Tumors, GermCell Tumors, Gestational Trophoblastic Tumor, Hairy Cell Leukemia, Headand Neck Cancer, Hepatocellular Cancer, Hodgkin's Disease, Hodgkin'sLymphoma, Hypergammaglobulinemia, Hypopharyngeal Cancer, IntestinalCancers, Intraocular Melanoma, Islet Cell Carcinoma, Islet CellPancreatic Cancer, Kaposi's Sarcoma, Kidney Cancer, Laryngeal Cancer,Lip and Oral Cavity Cancer, Liver Cancer, Lung Cancer,Lymphoproliferative Disorders, Macroglobulinemia, Male Breast Cancer,Malignant Mesothelioma, Malignant Thymoma, Medulloblastoma, Melanoma,Mesothelioma, Metastatic Occult Primary Squamous Neck Cancer, MetastaticPrimary Squamous Neck Cancer, Metastatic Squamous Neck Cancer, MultipleMyeloma, Multiple Myeloma/Plasma Cell Neoplasm, MyelodysplasticSyndrome, Myelogenous Leukemia, Myeloid Leukemia, MyeloproliferativeDisorders, Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancer, NasopharyngealCancer, Neuroblastoma, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma During Pregnancy,Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Occult PrimaryMetastatic Squamous Neck Cancer, Oropharyngeal Cancer, Osteo-/MalignantFibrous Sarcoma, Osteosarcoma/Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma,Osteosarcoma/Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of Bone, Ovarian EpithelialCancer, Ovarian Germ Cell Tumor, Ovarian Low Malignant Potential Tumor,Pancreatic Cancer, Paraproteinemias, Purpura, Parathyroid Cancer, PenileCancer, Pheochromocytoma, Pituitary Tumor, Plasma Cell Neoplasm/MultipleMyeloma, Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma, Primary Liver Cancer,Prostate Cancer, Rectal Cancer, Renal Cell Cancer, Renal Pelvis andUreter Cancer, Retinoblastoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma, Salivary Gland Cancer,Sarcoidosis Sarcomas, Sezary Syndrome, Skin Cancer, Small Cell LungCancer, Small Intestine Cancer, Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Squamous NeckCancer, Stomach Cancer, Supratentorial Primitive Neuroectodermal andPineal Tumors, T-Cell Lymphoma, Testicular Cancer, Thymoma, ThyroidCancer, Transitional Cell Cancer of the Renal Pelvis and Ureter,Transitional Renal Pelvis and Ureter Cancer, Trophoblastic Tumors,Ureter and Renal Pelvis Cell Cancer, Urethral Cancer, Uterine Cancer,Uterine Sarcoma, Vaginal Cancer, Visual Pathway and Hypothalamic Glioma,Vulvar Cancer, Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia, Wilms' Tumor, and anyother hyperproliferative disease, besides neoplasia, located in an organsystem listed above.

[0623] In another preferred embodiment, polynucleotides or polypeptides,or agonists or antagonists of the present invention are used todiagnose, prognose, prevent, and/or treat premalignant conditions and toprevent progression to a neoplastic or malignant state, including butnot limited to those disorders described above. Such uses are indicatedin conditions known or suspected of preceding progression to neoplasiaor cancer, in particular, where non-neoplastic cell growth consisting ofhyperplasia, metaplasia, or most particularly, dysplasia has occurred(for review of such abnormal growth conditions, see Robbins and Angell,1976, Basic Pathology, 2d Ed., W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, pp.68-79.)

[0624] Hyperplasia is a form of controlled cell proliferation, involvingan increase in cell number in a tissue or organ, without significantalteration in structure or function. Hyperplastic disorders which can bediagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated with compositions of theinvention (including polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists orantagonists) include, but are not limited to, angiofollicularmediastinal lymph node hyperplasia, angiolymphoid hyperplasia witheosinophilia, atypical melanocytic hyperplasia, basal cell hyperplasia,benign giant lymph node hyperplasia, cementum hyperplasia, congenitaladrenal hyperplasia, congenital sebaceous hyperplasia, cystichyperplasia, cystic hyperplasia of the breast, denture hyperplasia,ductal hyperplasia, endometrial hyperplasia, fibromuscular hyperplasia,focal epithelial hyperplasia, gingival hyperplasia, inflammatory fibroushyperplasia, inflammatory papillary hyperplasia, intravascular papillaryendothelial hyperplasia, nodular hyperplasia of prostate, nodularregenerative hyperplasia, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, senilesebaceous hyperplasia, and verrucous hyperplasia.

[0625] Metaplasia is a form of controlled cell growth in which one typeof adult or fully differentiated cell substitutes for another type ofadult cell. Metaplastic disorders which can be diagnosed, prognosed,prevented, and/or treated with compositions of the invention (includingpolynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists or antagonists) include, but arenot limited to, agnogenic myeloid metaplasia, apocrine metaplasia,atypical metaplasia, autoparenchymatous metaplasia, connective tissuemetaplasia, epithelial metaplasia, intestinal metaplasia, metaplasticanemia, metaplastic ossification, metaplastic polyps, myeloidmetaplasia, primary myeloid metaplasia, secondary myeloid metaplasia,squamous metaplasia, squamous metaplasia of amnion, and symptomaticmyeloid metaplasia.

[0626] Dysplasia is frequently a forerunner of cancer, and is foundmainly in the epithelia; it is the most disorderly form ofnon-neoplastic cell growth, involving a loss in individual celluniformity and in the architectural orientation of cells. Dysplasticcells often have abnormally large, deeply stained nuclei, and exhibitpleomorphism. Dysplasia characteristically occurs where there existschronic irritation or inflammation. Dysplastic disorders which can bediagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated with compositions of theinvention (including polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists orantagonists) include, but are not limited to, anhidrotic ectodermaldysplasia, anterofacial dysplasia, asphyxiating thoracic dysplasia,atriodigital dysplasia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cerebral dysplasia,cervical dysplasia, chondroectodermal dysplasia, cleidocranialdysplasia, congenital ectodermal dysplasia, craniodiaphysial dysplasia,craniocarpotarsal dysplasia, craniometaphysial dysplasia, dentindysplasia, diaphysial dysplasia, ectodermal dysplasia, enamel dysplasia,encephalo-ophthalmic dysplasia, dysplasia epiphysialis hemimelia,dysplasia epiphysialis multiplex, dysplasia epiphysialis punctata,epithelial dysplasia, faciodigitogenital dysplasia, familial fibrousdysplasia of jaws, familial white folded dysplasia, fibromusculardysplasia, fibrous dysplasia of bone, florid osseous dysplasia,hereditary renal-retinal dysplasia, hidrotic ectodermal dysplasia,hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, lymphopenic thymic dysplasia, mammarydysplasia, mandibulofacial dysplasia, metaphysial dysplasia, Mondinidysplasia, monostotic fibrous dysplasia, mucoepithelial dysplasia,multiple epiphysial dysplasia, oculoauriculovertebral dysplasia,oculodentodigital dysplasia, oculovertebral dysplasia, odontogenicdysplasia, ophthalmomandibulomelic dysplasia, periapical cementaldysplasia, polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, pseudoachondroplasticspondyloepiphysial dysplasia, retinal dysplasia, septo-optic dysplasia,spondyloepiphysial dysplasia, and ventriculoradial dysplasia.

[0627] Additional pre-neoplastic disorders which can be diagnosed,prognosed, prevented, and/or treated with compositions of the invention(including polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists or antagonists)include, but are not limited to, benign dysproliferative disorders(e.g., benign tumors, fibrocystic conditions, tissue hypertrophy,intestinal polyps, colon polyps, and esophageal dysplasia), leukoplakia,keratoses, Bowen's disease, Farmer's Skin, solar cheilitis, and solarkeratosis.

[0628] In another embodiment, a polypeptide of the invention, orpolynucleotides, antibodies, agonists, or antagonists corresponding tothat polypeptide, may be used to diagnose and/or prognose disordersassociated with the tissue(s) in which the polypeptide of the inventionis expressed, including one, two, three, four, five, or more tissuesdisclosed in Table 1, column 8 (Tissue Distribution Library Code).

[0629] In another embodiment, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention conjugated to atoxin or a radioactive isotope, as described herein, may be used totreat cancers and neoplasms, including, but not limited to thosedescribed herein. In a further preferred embodiment, polynucleotides,polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention conjugated to a toxin or a radioactive isotope, as describedherein, may be used to treat acute myelogenous leukemia.

[0630] Additionally, polynucleotides, polypeptides, and/or agonists orantagonists of the invention may affect apoptosis, and therefore, wouldbe useful in treating a number of diseases associated with increasedcell survival or the inhibition of apoptosis. For example, diseasesassociated with increased cell survival or the inhibition of apoptosisthat could be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated bypolynucleotides, polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of theinvention, include cancers (such as follicular lymphomas, carcinomaswith p53 mutations, and hormone-dependent tumors, including, but notlimited to colon cancer, cardiac tumors, pancreatic cancer, melanoma,retinoblastoma, glioblastoma, lung cancer, intestinal cancer, testicularcancer, stomach cancer, neuroblastoma, myxoma, myoma, lymphoma,endothelioma, osteoblastoma, osteoclastoma, osteosarcoma,chondrosarcoma, adenoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, Kaposi'ssarcoma and ovarian cancer); autoimmune disorders such as, multiplesclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, biliarycirrhosis, Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease, polymyositis, systemiclupus erythematosus and immune-related glomerulonephritis and rheumatoidarthritis) and viral infections (such as herpes viruses, pox viruses andadenoviruses), inflammation, graft v. host disease, acute graftrejection, and chronic graft rejection.

[0631] In preferred embodiments, polynucleotides, polypeptides, and/oragonists or antagonists of the invention are used to inhibit growth,progression, and/or metastasis of cancers, in particular those listedabove.

[0632] Additional diseases or conditions associated with increased cellsurvival that could be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treatedby polynucleotides, polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of theinvention, include, but are not limited to, progression, and/ormetastases of malignancies and related disorders such as leukemia(including acute leukemias (e.g., acute lymphocytic leukemia, acutemyelocytic leukemia (including myeloblastic, promyelocytic,myelomonocytic, monocytic, and erythroleukemia)) and chronic leukemias(e.g., chronic myelocytic (granulocytic) leukemia and chroniclymphocytic leukemia)), polycythemia vera, lymphomas (e.g., Hodgkin'sdisease and non-Hodgkin's disease), multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom'smacroglobulinemia, heavy chain disease, and solid tumors including, butnot limited to, sarcomas and carcinomas such as fibrosarcoma,myxosarcoma, liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, chordoma,angiosarcoma, endotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma,lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, synovioma, mesothelioma, Ewing's tumor,leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, colon carcinoma, pancreatic cancer,breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, squamous cell carcinoma,basal cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, sebaceousgland carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinomas,cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, renalcell carcinoma, hepatoma, bile duct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma,seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilm's tumor, cervical cancer, testiculartumor, lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, bladder carcinoma,epithelial carcinoma, glioma, astrocytoma, medulloblastoma,craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pinealoma, emangioblastoma, acousticneuroma, oligodendroglioma, menangioma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, andretinoblastoma.

[0633] Diseases associated with increased apoptosis that could bediagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated by polynucleotides,polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, includeAIDS; neurodegenerative disorders (such as Alzheimer's disease,Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, retinitispigmentosa, cerebellar degeneration and brain tumor or prior associateddisease); autoimmune disorders (such as, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren'ssyndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, biliary cirrhosis, Behcet's disease,Crohn's disease, polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus andimmune-related glomerulonephritis and rheumatoid arthritis)myelodysplastic syndromes (such as aplastic anemia), graft v. hostdisease, ischemic injury (such as that caused by myocardial infarction,stroke and reperfusion injury), liver injury (e.g., hepatitis relatedliver injury, ischemia/reperfusion injury, cholestosis (bile ductinjury) and liver cancer); toxin-induced liver disease (such as thatcaused by alcohol), septic shock, cachexia and anorexia.

[0634] Hyperproliferative diseases and/or disorders that could bediagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated by polynucleotides,polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention, include,but are not limited to, neoplasms located in the liver, abdomen, bone,breast, digestive system, pancreas, peritoneum, endocrine glands(adrenal, parathyroid, pituitary, testicles, ovary, thymus, thyroid),eye, head and neck, nervous system (central and peripheral), lymphaticsystem, pelvis, skin, soft tissue, spleen, thorax, and urogenital tract.

[0635] Similarly, other hyperproliferative disorders can also bediagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated by polynucleotides,polypeptides, and/or agonists or antagonists of the invention. Examplesof such hyperproliferative disorders include, but are not limited to:hypergammaglobulinemia, lymphoproliferative disorders, paraproteinemias,purpura, sarcoidosis, Sezary Syndrome, Waldenstron's macroglobulinemia,Gaucher's Disease, histiocytosis, and any other hyperproliferativedisease, besides neoplasia, located in an organ system listed above.

[0636] Another preferred embodiment utilizes polynucleotides of thepresent invention to inhibit aberrant cellular division, by gene therapyusing the present invention, and/or protein fusions or fragmentsthereof.

[0637] Thus, the present invention provides a method for treating cellproliferative disorders by inserting into an abnormally proliferatingcell a polynucleotide of the present invention, wherein saidpolynucleotide represses said expression.

[0638] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method oftreating cell-proliferative disorders in individuals comprisingadministration of one or more active gene copies of the presentinvention to an abnormally proliferating cell or cells. In a preferredembodiment, polynucleotides of the present invention is a DNA constructcomprising a recombinant expression vector effective in expressing a DNAsequence encoding said polynucleotides. In another preferred embodimentof the present invention, the DNA construct encoding the poynucleotidesof the present invention is inserted into cells to be treated utilizinga retrovirus, or more preferably an adenoviral vector (See G J. Nabel,et. al., PNAS 1999 96:324-326, which is hereby incorporated byreference). In a most preferred embodiment, the viral vector isdefective and will not transform non-proliferating cells, onlyproliferating cells. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, thepolynucleotides of the present invention inserted into proliferatingcells either alone, or in combination with or fused to otherpolynucleotides, can then be modulated via an external stimulus (i.e.magnetic, specific small molecule, chemical, or drug administration,etc.), which acts upon the promoter upstream of said polynucleotides toinduce expression of the encoded protein product. As such the beneficialtherapeutic affect of the present invention may be expressly modulated(i.e. to increase, decrease, or inhibit expression of the presentinvention) based upon said external stimulus.

[0639] Polynucleotides of the present invention may be useful inrepressing expression of oncogenic genes or antigens. By “repressingexpression of the oncogenic genes ” is intended the suppression of thetranscription of the gene, the degradation of the gene transcript(pre-message RNA), the inhibition of splicing, the destruction of themessenger RNA, the prevention of the post-translational modifications ofthe protein, the destruction of the protein, or the inhibition of thenormal function of the protein.

[0640] For local administration to abnormally proliferating cells,polynucleotides of the present invention may be administered by anymethod known to those of skill in the art including, but not limited totransfection, electroporation, microinjection of cells, or in vehiclessuch as liposomes, lipofectin, or as naked polynucleotides, or any othermethod described throughout the specification. The polynucleotide of thepresent invention may be delivered by known gene delivery systems suchas, but not limited to, retroviral vectors (Gilboa, J. Virology 44:845(1982); Hocke, Nature 320:275 (1986); Wilson, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. U.S.A. 85:3014), vaccinia virus system (Chakrabarty et al., Mol.Cell Biol. 5:3403 (1985) or other efficient DNA delivery systems (Yateset al., Nature 313:812 (1985)) known to those skilled in the art. Thesereferences are exemplary only and are hereby incorporated by reference.In order to specifically deliver or transfect cells which are abnormallyproliferating and spare non-dividing cells, it is preferable to utilizea retrovirus, or adenoviral (as described in the art and elsewhereherein) delivery system known to those of skill in the art. Since hostDNA replication is required for retroviral DNA to integrate and theretrovirus will be unable to self replicate due to the lack of theretrovirus genes needed for its life cycle. Utilizing such a retroviraldelivery system for polynucleotides of the present invention will targetsaid gene and constructs to abnormally proliferating cells and willspare the non-dividing normal cells.

[0641] The polynucleotides of the present invention may be delivereddirectly to cell proliferative disorder/disease sites in internalorgans, body cavities and the like by use of imaging devices used toguide an injecting needle directly to the disease site. Thepolynucleotides of the present invention may also be administered todisease sites at the time of surgical intervention.

[0642] By “cell proliferative disease” is meant any human or animaldisease or disorder, affecting any one or any combination of organs,cavities, or body parts, which is characterized by single or multiplelocal abnormal proliferations of cells, groups of cells, or tissues,whether benign or malignant.

[0643] Any amount of the polynucleotides of the present invention may beadministered as long as it has a biologically inhibiting effect on theproliferation of the treated cells. Moreover, it is possible toadminister more than one of the polynucleotide of the present inventionsimultaneously to the same site. By “biologically inhibiting” is meantpartial or total growth inhibition as well as decreases in the rate ofproliferation or growth of the cells. The biologically inhibitory dosemay be determined by assessing the effects of the polynucleotides of thepresent invention on target malignant or abnormally proliferating cellgrowth in tissue culture, tumor growth in animals and cell cultures, orany other method known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0644] The present invention is further directed to antibody-basedtherapies which involve administering of anti-polypeptides andanti-polynucleotide antibodies to a mammalian, preferably human, patientfor treating one or more of the described disorders. Methods forproducing anti-polypeptides and anti-polynucleotide antibodiespolyclonal and monoclonal antibodies are described in detail elsewhereherein. Such antibodies may be provided in pharmaceutically acceptablecompositions as known in the art or as described herein.

[0645] A summary of the ways in which the antibodies of the presentinvention may be used therapeutically includes binding polynucleotidesor polypeptides of the present invention locally or systemically in thebody or by direct cytotoxicity of the antibody, e.g. as mediated bycomplement (CDC) or by effector cells (ADCC). Some of these approachesare described in more detail below. Armed with the teachings providedherein, one of ordinary skill in the art will know how to use theantibodies of the present invention for diagnostic, monitoring ortherapeutic purposes without undue experimentation.

[0646] In particular, the antibodies, fragments and derivatives of thepresent invention are useful for treating a subject having or developingcell proliferative and/or differentiation disorders as described herein.Such treatment comprises administering a single or multiple doses of theantibody, or a fragment, derivative, or a conjugate thereof.

[0647] The antibodies of this invention may be advantageously utilizedin combination with other monoclonal or chimeric antibodies, or withlymphokines or hematopoietic growth factors, for example., which serveto increase the number or activity of effector cells which interact withthe antibodies.

[0648] It is preferred to use high affinity and/or potent in vivoinhibiting and/or neutralizing antibodies against polypeptides orpolynucleotides of the present invention, fragments or regions thereof,for both immunoassays directed to and therapy of disorders related topolynucleotides or polypeptides, including fragements thereof, of thepresent invention. Such antibodies, fragments, or regions, willpreferably have an affinity for polynucleotides or polypeptides,including fragements thereof. Preferred binding affinities include thosewith a dissociation constant or Kd less than 5×10⁻⁶M, 10⁻⁶M, 5×10⁻⁷M,10⁻⁷M, 5×10⁻⁸M, 10⁻⁸M, 5×10⁻⁹M, 10⁻⁹M, 5×10⁻¹⁰M, 10⁻¹⁰M, 5×10⁻¹¹M,10⁻¹¹M, 5×10⁻¹²M, 10⁻¹²M, 5×10⁻¹³M, 10⁻¹³M, 5×10⁻¹⁴M, 10⁻¹⁴M, 5×10¹⁵M,and 10⁻¹⁵M.

[0649] Moreover, polypeptides of the present invention are useful ininhibiting the angiogenesis of proliferative cells or tissues, eitheralone, as a protein fusion, or in combination with other polypeptidesdirectly or indirectly, as described elsewhere herein. In a mostpreferred embodiment, said anti-angiogenesis effect may be achievedindirectly, for example, through the inhibition of hematopoietic,tumor-specific cells, such as tumor-associated macrophages (See Joseph IB, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst, 90(21):1648-53 (1998), which is herebyincorporated by reference). Antibodies directed to polypeptides orpolynucleotides of the present invention may also result in inhibitionof angiogenesis directly, or indirectly (See Witte L, et al., CancerMetastasis Rev. 17(2):155-61 (1998), which is hereby incorporated byreference)).

[0650] Polypeptides, including protein fusions, of the presentinvention, or fragments thereof may be useful in inhibitingproliferative cells or tissues through the induction of apoptosis. Saidpolypeptides may act either directly, or indirectly to induce apoptosisof proliferative cells and tissues, for example in the activation of adeath-domain receptor, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-1,CD95 (Fas/APO-1), TNF-receptor-related apoptosis-mediated protein(TRAMP) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor-1 and-2 (See Schulze-Osthoff K, et.al., Eur J Biochem 254(3):439-59 (1998),which is hereby incorporated by reference). Moreover, in anotherpreferred embodiment of the present invention, said polypeptides mayinduce apoptosis through other mechanisms, such as in the activation ofother proteins which will activate apoptosis, or through stimulating theexpression of said proteins, either alone or in combination with smallmolecule drugs or adjuviants, such as apoptonin, galectins,thioredoxins, anti-inflammatory proteins (See for example, Mutat Res400(1-2):447-55 (1998), Med Hypotheses. 50(5):423-33 (1998), Chem BiolInteract. Apr 24;111-112:23-34 (1998), J Mol Med. 76(6):402-12 (1998),Int J Tissue React; 20(1):3-15 (1998), which are all hereby incorporatedby reference).

[0651] Polypeptides, including protein fusions to, or fragments thereof,of the present invention are useful in inhibiting the metastasis ofproliferative cells or tissues. Inhibition may occur as a direct resultof administering polypeptides, or antibodies directed to saidpolypeptides as described elsewere herein, or indirectly, such asactivating the expression of proteins known to inhibit metastasis, forexample alpha 4 integrins, (See, e.g., Curr Top Microbiol Immunol1998;231:125-41, which is hereby incorporated by reference). Suchthereapeutic affects of the present invention may be achieved eitheralone, or in combination with small molecule drugs or adjuvants.

[0652] In another embodiment, the invention provides a method ofdelivering compositions containing the polypeptides of the invention(e.g., compositions containing polypeptides or polypeptide antibodesassociated with heterologous polypeptides, heterologous nucleic acids,toxins, or prodrugs) to targeted cells expressing the polypeptide of thepresent invention. Polypeptides or polypeptide antibodes of theinvention may be associated with with heterologous polypeptides,heterologous nucleic acids, toxins, or prodrugs via hydrophobic,hydrophilic, ionic and/or covalent interactions.

[0653] Polypeptides, protein fusions to, or fragments thereof, of thepresent invention are useful in enhancing the immunogenicity and/orantigenicity of proliferating cells or tissues, either directly, such aswould occur if the polypeptides of the present invention ‘vaccinated’the immune response to respond to proliferative antigens and immunogens,or indirectly, such as in activating the expression of proteins known toenhance the immune response (e.g. chemokines), to said antigens andimmunogens.

[0654] Renal Disorders

[0655] Polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies, and/or agonists orantagonists of the present invention, may be used to treat, prevent,diagnose, and/or prognose disorders of the renal system. Renal disorderswhich can be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented, and/or treated withcompositions of the invention include, but are not limited to, kidneyfailure, nephritis, blood vessel disorders of kidney, metabolic andcongenital kidney disorders, urinary disorders of the kidney, autoimmunedisorders, sclerosis and necrosis, electrolyte imbalance, and kidneycancers.

[0656] Kidney diseases which can be diagnosed, prognosed, prevented,and/or treated with compositions of the invention include, but are notlimited to, acute kidney failure, chronic kidney failure, atheroembolicrenal failure, end-stage renal disease, inflammatory diseases of thekidney (e.g., acute glomerulonephritis, postinfectiousglomerulonephritis, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, nephroticsyndrome, membranous glomerulonephritis, familial nephrotic syndrome,membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis I and II, mesangialproliferative glomerulonephritis, chronic glomerulonephritis, acutetubulointerstitial nephritis, chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis,acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN), pyelonephritis,lupus nephritis, chronic nephritis, interstitial nephritis, andpost-streptococcal glomerulonephritis), blood vessel disorders of thekidneys (e.g., kidney infarction, atheroembolic kidney disease, corticalnecrosis, malignant nephrosclerosis, renal vein thrombosis, renalunderperfusion, renal retinopathy, renal ischemia-reperfusion, renalartery embolism, and renal artery stenosis), and kidney disordersresulting form urinary tract disease (e.g., pyelonephritis,hydronephrosis, urolithiasis (renal lithiasis, nephrolithiasis), refluxnephropathy, urinary tract infections, urinary retention, and acute orchronic unilateral obstructive uropathy.)

[0657] In addition, compositions of the invention can be used todiagnose, prognose, prevent, and/or treat metabolic and congenitaldisorders of the kidney (e.g., uremia, renal amyloidosis, renalosteodystrophy, renal tubular acidosis, renal glycosuria, nephrogenicdiabetes insipidus, cystinuria, Fanconi's syndrome, renal fibrocysticosteosis (renal rickets), Hartnup disease, Bartter's syndrome, Liddle'ssyndrome, polycystic kidney disease, medullary cystic disease, medullarysponge kidney, Alport's syndrome, nail-patella syndrome, congenitalnephrotic syndrome, CRUSH syndrome, horseshoe kidney, diabeticnephropathy, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, analgesic nephropathy,kidney stones, and membranous nephropathy), and autoimmune disorders ofthe kidney (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Goodpasturesyndrome, IgA nephropathy, and IgM mesangial proliferativeglomerulonephritis).

[0658] Compositions of the invention can also be used to diagnose,prognose, prevent, and/or treat sclerotic or necrotic disorders of thekidney (e.g., glomerulosclerosis, diabetic nephropathy, focal segmentalglomerulosclerosis (FSGS), necrotizing glomerulonephritis, and renalpapillary necrosis), cancers of the kidney (e.g., nephroma,hypemephroma, nephroblastoma, renal cell cancer, transitional cellcancer, renal adenocarcinoma, squamous cell cancer, and Wilm's tumor),and electrolyte imbalances (e.g., nephrocalcinosis, pyuria, edema,hydronephritis, proteinuria, hyponatremia, hypematremia, hypokalemia,hyperkalemia, hypocalcemia, hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, andhyperphosphatemia).

[0659] Polypeptides may be administered using any method known in theart, including, but not limited to, direct needle injection at thedelivery site, intravenous injection, topical administration, catheterinfusion, biolistic injectors, particle accelerators, gelfoam spongedepots, other commercially available depot materials, osmotic pumps,oral or suppositorial solid pharmaceutical formulations, decanting ortopical applications during surgery, aerosol delivery. Such methods areknown in the art. Polypeptides may be administered as part of aTherapeutic, described in more detail below. Methods of deliveringpolynucleotides are described in more detail herein.

[0660] Cardiovascular Disorders

[0661] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention, may be used to treat, prevent, diagnose, and/orprognose cardiovascular disorders, including, but not limited to,peripheral artery disease, such as limb ischemia.

[0662] Cardiovascular disorders include, but are not limited to,cardiovascular abnormalities, such as arterio-arterial fistula,arteriovenous fistula, cerebral arteriovenous malformations, congenitalheart defects, pulmonary atresia, and Scimitar Syndrome. Congenitalheart defects include, but are not limited to, aortic coarctation, cortriatriatum, coronary vessel anomalies, crisscross heart, dextrocardia,patent ductus arteriosus, Ebstein's anomaly, Eisenmenger complex,hypoplastic left heart syndrome, levocardia, tetralogy of fallot,transposition of great vessels, double outlet right ventricle, tricuspidatresia, persistent truncus arteriosus, and heart septal defects, suchas aortopulmonary septal defect, endocardial cushion defects,Lutembacher's Syndrome, trilogy of Fallot, ventricular heart septaldefects.

[0663] Cardiovascular disorders also include, but are not limited to,heart disease, such as arrhythmias, carcinoid heart disease, highcardiac output, low cardiac output, cardiac tamponade, endocarditis(including bacterial), heart aneurysm, cardiac arrest, congestive heartfailure, congestive cardiomyopathy, paroxysmal dyspnea, cardiac edema,heart hypertrophy, congestive cardiomyopathy, left ventricularhypertrophy, right ventricular hypertrophy, post-infarction heartrupture, ventricular septal rupture, heart valve diseases, myocardialdiseases, myocardial ischemia, pericardial effusion, pericarditis(including constrictive and tuberculous), pneumopericardium,postpericardiotomy syndrome, pulmonary heart disease, rheumatic heartdisease, ventricular dysfunction, hyperemia, cardiovascular pregnancycomplications, Scimitar Syndrome, cardiovascular syphilis, andcardiovascular tuberculosis.

[0664] Arrhythmias include, but are not limited to, sinus arrhythmia,atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, bradycardia, extrasystole,Adams-Stokes Syndrome, bundle-branch block, sinoatrial block, long QTsyndrome, parasystole, Lown-Ganong-Levine Syndrome, Mahaim-typepre-excitation syndrome, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, sick sinussyndrome, tachycardias, and ventricular fibrillation. Tachycardiasinclude paroxysmal tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia,accelerated idioventricular rhythm, atrioventricular nodal reentrytachycardia, ectopic atrial tachycardia, ectopic junctional tachycardia,sinoatrial nodal reentry tachycardia, sinus tachycardia, Torsades dePointes, and ventricular tachycardia.

[0665] Heart valve diseases include, but are not limited to, aorticvalve insufficiency, aortic valve stenosis, hear murmurs, aortic valveprolapse, mitral valve prolapse, tricuspid valve prolapse, mitral valveinsufficiency, mitral valve stenosis, pulmonary atresia, pulmonary valveinsufficiency, pulmonary valve stenosis, tricuspid atresia, tricuspidvalve insufficiency, and tricuspid valve stenosis.

[0666] Myocardial diseases include, but are not limited to, alcoholiccardiomyopathy, congestive cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,aortic subvalvular stenosis, pulmonary subvalvular stenosis, restrictivecardiomyopathy, Chagas cardiomyopathy, endocardial fibroelastosis,endomyocardial fibrosis, Kearns Syndrome, myocardial reperfusion injury,and myocarditis.

[0667] Myocardial ischemias include, but are not limited to, coronarydisease, such as angina pectoris, coronary aneurysm, coronaryarteriosclerosis, coronary thrombosis, coronary vasospasm, myocardialinfarction and myocardial stunning.

[0668] Cardiovascular diseases also include vascular diseases such asaneurysms, angiodysplasia, angiomatosis, bacillary angiomatosis,Hippel-Lindau Disease, Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber Syndrome, Sturge-WeberSyndrome, angioneurotic edema, aortic diseases, Takayasu's Arteritis,aortitis, Leriche's Syndrome, arterial occlusive diseases, arteritis,enarteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, cerebrovascular disorders, diabeticangiopathies, diabetic retinopathy, embolisms, thrombosis,erythromelalgia, hemorrhoids, hepatic veno-occlusive disease,hypertension, hypotension, ischemia, peripheral vascular diseases,phlebitis, pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, Raynaud's disease, CRESTsyndrome, retinal vein occlusion, Scimitar syndrome, superior vena cavasyndrome, telangiectasia, atacia telangiectasia, hereditary hemorrhagictelangiectasia, varicocele, varicose veins, varicose ulcer, vasculitis,and venous insufficiency.

[0669] Aneurysms include, but are not limited to, dissecting aneurysms,false aneurysms, infected aneurysms, ruptured aneurysms, aorticaneurysms, cerebral aneurysms, coronary aneurysms, heart aneurysms, andiliac aneurysms.

[0670] Arterial occlusive diseases include, but are not limited to,arteriosclerosis, intermittent claudication, carotid stenosis,fibromuscular dysplasias, mesenteric vascular occlusion, Moyamoyadisease, renal artery obstruction, retinal artery occlusion, andthromboangiitis obliterans.

[0671] Cerebrovascular disorders include, but are not limited to,carotid artery diseases, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, cerebral aneurysm,cerebral anoxia, cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebral arteriovenousmalformation, cerebral artery diseases, cerebral embolism andthrombosis, carotid artery thrombosis, sinus thrombosis, Wallenberg'ssyndrome, cerebral hemorrhage, epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma,subaraxhnoid hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, cerebral ischemia(including transient), subclavian steal syndrome, periventricularleukomalacia, vascular headache, cluster headache, migraine, andvertebrobasilar insufficiency.

[0672] Embolisms include, but are not limited to, air embolisms,amniotic fluid embolisms, cholesterol embolisms, blue toe syndrome, fatembolisms, pulmonary embolisms, and thromoboembolisms. Thrombosisinclude, but are not limited to, coronary thrombosis, hepatic veinthrombosis, retinal vein occlusion, carotid artery thrombosis, sinusthrombosis, Wallenberg's syndrome, and thrombophlebitis.

[0673] Ischemic disorders include, but are not limited to, cerebralischemia, ischemic colitis, compartment syndromes, anterior compartmentsyndrome, myocardial ischemia, reperfusion injuries, and peripheral limbischemia. Vasculitis includes, but is not limited to, aortitis,arteritis, Behcet's Syndrome, Churg-Strauss Syndrome, mucocutaneouslymph node syndrome, thromboangiitis obliterans, hypersensitivityvasculitis, Schoenlein-Henoch purpura, allergic cutaneous vasculitis,and Wegener's granulomatosis.

[0674] Polypeptides may be administered using any method known in theart, including, but not limited to, direct needle injection at thedelivery site, intravenous injection, topical administration, catheterinfusion, biolistic injectors, particle accelerators, gelfoam spongedepots, other commercially available depot materials, osmotic pumps,oral or suppositorial solid pharmaceutical formulations, decanting ortopical applications during surgery, aerosol delivery. Such methods areknown in the art. Polypeptides may be administered as part of aTherapeutic, described in more detail below. Methods of deliveringpolynucleotides are described in more detail herein.

[0675] Respiratory Disorders

[0676] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention may be used to treat, prevent, diagnose, and/orprognose diseases and/or disorders of the respiratory system.

[0677] Diseases and disorders of the respiratory system include, but arenot limited to, nasal vestibulitis, nonallergic rhinitis (e.g., acuterhinitis, chronic rhinitis, atrophic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis),nasal polyps, and sinusitis, juvenile angiofibromas, cancer of the noseand juvenile papillomas, vocal cord polyps, nodules (singer's nodules),contact ulcers, vocal cord paralysis, laryngoceles, pharyngitis (e.g.,viral and bacterial), tonsillitis, tonsillar cellulitis, parapharyngealabscess, laryngitis, laryngoceles, and throat cancers (e.g., cancer ofthe nasopharynx, tonsil cancer, larynx cancer), lung cancer (e.g.,squamous cell carcinoma, small cell (oat cell) carcinoma, large cellcarcinoma, and adenocarcinoma), allergic disorders (eosinophilicpneumonia, hypersensitivity pneumonitis (e.g., extrinsic allergicalveolitis, allergic interstitial pneumonitis, organic dustpneumoconiosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, asthma,Wegener's granulomatosis (granulomatous vasculitis), Goodpasture'ssyndrome)), pneumonia (e.g., bacterial pneumonia (e.g., Streptococcuspneumoniae (pneumoncoccal pneumonia), Staphylococcus aureus(staphylococcal pneumonia), Gram-negative bacterial pneumonia (causedby, e.g., Klebsiella and Pseudomas spp.), Mycoplasma pneumoniaepneumonia, Hemophilus influenzae pneumonia, Legionella pneumophila(Legionnaires' disease), and Chlamydia psittaci (Psittacosis)), andviral pneumonia (e.g., influenza, chickenpox (varicella).

[0678] Additional diseases and disorders of the respiratory systeminclude, but are not limited to bronchiolitis, polio (poliomyelitis),croup, respiratory syncytial viral infection, mumps, erythemainfectiosum (fifth disease), roseola infantum, progressive rubellapanencephalitis, german measles, and subacute sclerosingpanencephalitis), fungal pneumonia (e.g., Histoplasmosis,Coccidioidomycosis, Blastomycosis, fungal infections in people withseverely suppressed immune systems (e.g., cryptococcosis, caused byCryptococcus neoformans; aspergillosis, caused by Aspergillus spp.;candidiasis, caused by Candida; and mucormycosis)), Pneumocystis carinii(pneumocystis pneumonia), atypical pneumonias (e.g., Mycoplasma andChlamydia spp.), opportunistic infection pneumonia, nosocomialpneumonia, chemical pneumonitis, and aspiration pneumonia, pleuraldisorders (e.g., pleurisy, pleural effusion, and pneumothorax (e.g.,simple spontaneous pneumothorax, complicated spontaneous pneumothorax,tension pneumothorax)), obstructive airway diseases (e.g., asthma,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, chronic oracute bronchitis), occupational lung diseases (e.g., silicosis, blacklung (coal workers' pneumoconiosis), asbestosis, berylliosis,occupational asthsma, byssinosis, and benign pneumoconioses),Infiltrative Lung Disease (e.g., pulmonary fibrosis (e.g., fibrosingalveolitis, usual interstitial pneumonia), idiopathic pulmonaryfibrosis, desquamative interstitial pneumonia, lymphoid interstitialpneumonia, histiocytosis X (e.g., Letterer-Siwe disease,Hand-Schuiller-Christian disease, eosinophilic granuloma), idiopathicpulmonary hemosiderosis, sarcoidosis and pulmonary alveolarproteinosis), Acute respiratory distress syndrome (also called, e.g.,adult respiratory distress syndrome), edema, pulmonary embolism,bronchitis (e.g., viral, bacterial), bronchiectasis, atelectasis, lungabscess (caused by, e.g., Staphylococcus aureus or Legionellapneumophila), and cystic fibrosis.

[0679] Anti-Angiogenesis Activity

[0680] The naturally occurring balance between endogenous stimulatorsand inhibitors of angiogenesis is one in which inhibitory influencespredominate. Rastinejad et al., Cell 56:345-355 (1989). In those rareinstances in which neovascularization occurs under normal physiologicalconditions, such as wound healing, organ regeneration, embryonicdevelopment, and female reproductive processes, angiogenesis isstringently regulated and spatially and temporally delimited. Underconditions of pathological angiogenesis such as that characterizingsolid tumor growth, these regulatory controls fail. Unregulatedangiogenesis becomes pathologic and sustains progression of manyneoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. A number of serious diseases aredominated by abnormal neovascularization including solid tumor growthand metastases, arthritis, some types of eye disorders, and psoriasis.See, e.g., reviews by Moses et al., Biotech. 9:630-634 (1991); Folkmanet al., N. Engl. J. Med., 333:1757-1763 (1995); Auerbach et al., JMicrovasc. Res. 29:401-411 (1985); Folkman, Advances in Cancer Research,eds. Klein and Weinhouse, Academic Press, New York, pp. 175-203 (1985);Patz, Am. J. Opthalmol. 94:715-743 (1982); and Folkman et al., Science221:719-725 (1983). In a number of pathological conditions, the processof angiogenesis contributes to the disease state. For example,significant data have accumulated which suggest that the growth of solidtumors is dependent on angiogenesis. Folkman and Klagsbrun, Science235:442-447 (1987).

[0681] The present invention provides for treatment of diseases ordisorders associated with neovascularization by administration of thepolynucleotides and/or polypeptides of the invention, as well asagonists or antagonists of the present invention. Malignant andmetastatic conditions which can be treated with the polynucleotides andpolypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention include, butare not limited to, malignancies, solid tumors, and cancers describedherein and otherwise known in the art (for a review of such disorders,see Fishman et al., Medicine, 2d Ed., J. B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia(1985)). Thus, the present invention provides a method of treating anangiogenesis-related disease and/or disorder, comprising administeringto an individual in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of apolynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist of the invention.For example, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonistsmay be utilized in a variety of additional methods in order totherapeutically treat a cancer or tumor. Cancers which may be treatedwith polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists include,but are not limited to solid tumors, including prostate, lung, breast,ovarian, stomach, pancreas, larynx, esophagus, testes, liver, parotid,biliary tract, colon, rectum, cervix, uterus, endometrium, kidney,bladder, thyroid cancer; primary tumors and metastases; melanomas;glioblastoma; Kaposi's sarcoma; leiomyosarcoma; non-small cell lungcancer; colorectal cancer; advanced malignancies; and blood born tumorssuch as leukemias. For example, polynucleotides, polypeptides,antagonists and/or agonists may be delivered topically, in order totreat cancers such as skin cancer, head and neck tumors, breast tumors,and Kaposi's sarcoma.

[0682] Within yet other aspects, polynucleotides, polypeptides,antagonists and/or agonists may be utilized to treat superficial formsof bladder cancer by, for example, intravesical administration.Polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists may bedelivered directly into the tumor, or near the tumor site, via injectionor a catheter. Of course, as the artisan of ordinary skill willappreciate, the appropriate mode of administration will vary accordingto the cancer to be treated. Other modes of delivery are discussedherein.

[0683] Polynucleotides, polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists may beuseful in treating other disorders, besides cancers, which involveangiogenesis. These disorders include, but are not limited to: benigntumors, for example hemangiomas, acoustic neuromas, neurofibromas,trachomas, and pyogenic granulomas; artheroscleric plaques; ocularangiogenic diseases, for example, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy ofprematurity, macular degeneration, comeal graft rejection, neovascularglaucoma, retrolental fibroplasia, rubeosis, retinoblastoma, uvietis andPterygia (abnormal blood vessel growth) of the eye; rheumatoidarthritis; psoriasis; delayed wound healing; endometriosis;vasculogenesis; granulations; hypertrophic scars (keloids); nonunionfractures; scleroderma; trachoma; vascular adhesions; myocardialangiogenesis; coronary collaterals; cerebral collaterals; arteriovenousmalformations; ischemic limb angiogenesis; Osler-Webber Syndrome; plaqueneovascularization; telangiectasia; hemophiliac joints; angiofibroma;fibromuscular dysplasia; wound granulation; Crohn's disease; andatherosclerosis.

[0684] For example, within one aspect of the present invention methodsare provided for treating hypertrophic scars and keloids, comprising thestep of administering a polynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/oragonist of the invention to a hypertrophic scar or keloid.

[0685] Within one embodiment of the present invention polynucleotides,polypeptides, antagonists and/or agonists of the invention are directlyinjected into a hypertrophic scar or keloid, in order to prevent theprogression of these lesions. This therapy is of particular value in theprophylactic treatment of conditions which are known to result in thedevelopment of hypertrophic scars and keloids (e.g., burns), and ispreferably initiated after the proliferative phase has had time toprogress (approximately 14 days after the initial injury), but beforehypertrophic scar or keloid development. As noted above, the presentinvention also provides methods for treating neovascular diseases of theeye, including for example, corneal neovascularization, neovascularglaucoma, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, retrolental fibroplasiaand macular degeneration.

[0686] Moreover, Ocular disorders associated with neovascularizationwhich can be treated with the polynucleotides and polypeptides of thepresent invention (including agonists and/or antagonists) include, butare not limited to: neovascular glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy,retinoblastoma, retrolental fibroplasia, uveitis, retinopathy ofprematurity macular degeneration, corneal graft neovascularization, aswell as other eye inflammatory diseases, ocular tumors and diseasesassociated with choroidal or iris neovascularization. See, e.g., reviewsby Waltman et al., Am. J. Ophthal. 85:704-710 (1978) and Gartner et al.,Surv. Ophthal. 22:291-312 (1978).

[0687] Thus, within one aspect of the present invention methods areprovided for treating neovascular diseases of the eye such as cornealneovascularization (including corneal graft neovascularization),comprising the step of administering to a patient a therapeuticallyeffective amount of a compound (as described above) to the cornea, suchthat the formation of blood vessels is inhibited. Briefly, the cornea isa tissue which normally lacks blood vessels. In certain pathologicalconditions however, capillaries may extend into the cornea from thepericorneal vascular plexus of the limbus. When the cornea becomesvascularized, it also becomes clouded, resulting in a decline in thepatient's visual acuity. Visual loss may become complete if the corneacompletely opacitates. A wide variety of disorders can result in cornealneovascularization, including for example, corneal infections (e.g.,trachoma, herpes simplex keratitis, leishmaniasis and onchocerciasis),immunological processes (e.g., graft rejection and Stevens-Johnson'ssyndrome), alkali burns, trauma, inflammation (of any cause), toxic andnutritional deficiency states, and as a complication of wearing contactlenses.

[0688] Within particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, maybe prepared for topical administration in saline (combined with any ofthe preservatives and antimicrobial agents commonly used in ocularpreparations), and administered in eyedrop form. The solution orsuspension may be prepared in its pure form and administered severaltimes daily. Alternatively, anti-angiogenic compositions, prepared asdescribed above, may also be administered directly to the cornea. Withinpreferred embodiments, the anti-angiogenic composition is prepared witha muco-adhesive polymer which binds to cornea. Within furtherembodiments, the anti-angiogenic factors or anti-angiogenic compositionsmay be utilized as an adjunct to conventional steroid therapy. Topicaltherapy may also be useful prophylactically in corneal lesions which areknown to have a high probability of inducing an angiogenic response(such as chemical burns). In these instances the treatment, likely incombination with steroids, may be instituted immediately to help preventsubsequent complications.

[0689] Within other embodiments, the compounds described above may beinjected directly into the corneal stroma by an ophthalmologist undermicroscopic guidance. The preferred site of injection may vary with themorphology of the individual lesion, but the goal of the administrationwould be to place the composition at the advancing front of thevasculature (i.e., interspersed between the blood vessels and the normalcornea). In most cases this would involve perilimbic corneal injectionto “protect” the cornea from the advancing blood vessels. This methodmay also be utilized shortly after a corneal insult in order toprophylactically prevent corneal neovascularization. In this situationthe material could be injected in the perilimbic cornea interspersedbetween the corneal lesion and its undesired potential limbic bloodsupply. Such methods may also be utilized in a similar fashion toprevent capillary invasion of transplanted corneas. In asustained-release form injections might only be required 2-3 times peryear. A steroid could also be added to the injection solution to reduceinflammation resulting from the injection itself.

[0690] Within another aspect of the present invention, methods areprovided for treating neovascular glaucoma, comprising the step ofadministering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of apolynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist to the eye, suchthat the formation of blood vessels is inhibited. In one embodiment, thecompound may be administered topically to the eye in order to treatearly forms of neovascular glaucoma. Within other embodiments, thecompound may be implanted by injection into the region of the anteriorchamber angle. Within other embodiments, the compound may also be placedin any location such that the compound is continuously released into theaqueous humor. Within another aspect of the present invention, methodsare provided for treating proliferative diabetic retinopathy, comprisingthe step of administering to a patient a therapeutically effectiveamount of a polynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist tothe eyes, such that the formation of blood vessels is inhibited.

[0691] Within particularly preferred embodiments of the invention,proliferative diabetic retinopathy may be treated by injection into theaqueous humor or the vitreous, in order to increase the localconcentration of the polynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/oragonist in the retina. Preferably, this treatment should be initiatedprior to the acquisition of severe disease requiring photocoagulation.

[0692] Within another aspect of the present invention, methods areprovided for treating retrolental fibroplasia, comprising the step ofadministering to a patient a therapeutically effective amount of apolynucleotide, polypeptide, antagonist and/or agonist to the eye, suchthat the formation of blood vessels is inhibited. The compound may beadministered topically, via intravitreous injection and/or viaintraocular implants.

[0693] Additionally, disorders which can be treated with thepolynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists include, but arenot limited to, hemangioma, arthritis, psoriasis, angiofibroma,atherosclerotic plaques, delayed wound healing, granulations, hemophilicjoints, hypertrophic scars, nonunion fractures, Osler-Weber syndrome,pyogenic granuloma, scleroderma, trachoma, and vascular adhesions.

[0694] Moreover, disorders and/or states, which can be treated,prevented, diagnosed, and/or prognosed with the the polynucleotides,polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists of the invention include, but arenot limited to, solid tumors, blood born tumors such as leukemias, tumormetastasis, Kaposi's sarcoma, benign tumors, for example hemangiomas,acoustic neuromas, neurofibromas, trachomas, and pyogenic granulomas,rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, ocular angiogenic diseases, forexample, diabetic retinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity, maculardegeneration, comeal graft rejection, neovascular glaucoma, retrolentalfibroplasia, rubeosis, retinoblastoma, and uvietis, delayed woundhealing, endometriosis, vascluogenesis, granulations, hypertrophic scars(keloids), nonunion fractures, scleroderma, trachoma, vascularadhesions, myocardial angiogenesis, coronary collaterals, cerebralcollaterals, arteriovenous malformations, ischemic limb angiogenesis,Osler-Webber Syndrome, plaque neovascularization, telangiectasia,hemophiliac joints, angiofibroma fibromuscular dysplasia, woundgranulation, Crohn's disease, atherosclerosis, birth control agent bypreventing vascularization required for embryo implantation controllingmenstruation, diseases that have angiogenesis as a pathologicconsequence such as cat scratch disease (Rochele minalia quintosa),ulcers (Helicobacter pylori), Bartonellosis and bacillary angiomatosis.

[0695] In one aspect of the birth control method, an amount of thecompound sufficient to block embryo implantation is administered beforeor after intercourse and fertilization have occurred, thus providing aneffective method of birth control, possibly a “morning after” method.Polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists may also be usedin controlling menstruation or administered as either a peritoneallavage fluid or for peritoneal implantation in the treatment ofendometriosis.

[0696] Polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists of thepresent invention may be incorporated into surgical sutures in order toprevent stitch granulomas.

[0697] Polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists may beutilized in a wide variety of surgical procedures. For example, withinone aspect of the present invention a compositions (in the form of, forexample, a spray or film) may be utilized to coat or spray an area priorto removal of a tumor, in order to isolate normal surrounding tissuesfrom malignant tissue, and/or to prevent the spread of disease tosurrounding tissues. Within other aspects of the present invention,compositions (e.g., in the form of a spray) may be delivered viaendoscopic procedures in order to coat tumors, or inhibit angiogenesisin a desired locale. Within yet other aspects of the present invention,surgical meshes which have been coated with anti-angiogenic compositionsof the present invention may be utilized in any procedure wherein asurgical mesh might be utilized. For example, within one embodiment ofthe invention a surgical mesh laden with an anti-angiogenic compositionmay be utilized during abdominal cancer resection surgery (e.g.,subsequent to colon resection) in order to provide support to thestructure, and to release an amount of the anti-angiogenic factor.

[0698] Within further aspects of the present invention, methods areprovided for treating tumor excision sites, comprising administering apolynucleotide, polypeptide, agonist and/or agonist to the resectionmargins of a tumor subsequent to excision, such that the localrecurrence of cancer and the formation of new blood vessels at the siteis inhibited. Within one embodiment of the invention, theanti-angiogenic compound is administered directly to the tumor excisionsite (e.g., applied by swabbing, brushing or otherwise coating theresection margins of the tumor with the anti-angiogenic compound).Alternatively, the anti-angiogenic compounds may be incorporated intoknown surgical pastes prior to administration. Within particularlypreferred embodiments of the invention, the anti-angiogenic compoundsare applied after hepatic resections for malignancy, and afterneurosurgical operations.

[0699] Within one aspect of the present invention, polynucleotides,polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists may be administered to theresection margin of a wide variety of tumors, including for example,breast, colon, brain and hepatic tumors. For example, within oneembodiment of the invention, anti-angiogenic compounds may beadministered to the site of a neurological tumor subsequent to excision,such that the formation of new blood vessels at the site are inhibited.

[0700] The polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or agonists ofthe present invention may also be administered along with otheranti-angiogenic factors. Representative examples of otheranti-angiogenic factors include: Anti-Invasive Factor, retinoic acid andderivatives thereof, paclitaxel, Suramin, Tissue Inhibitor ofMetalloproteinase-1, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2,Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-2,and various forms of the lighter “d group” transition metals.

[0701] Lighter “d group” transition metals include, for example,vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, niobium, and tantalum species.Such transition metal species may form transition metal complexes.Suitable complexes of the above-mentioned transition metal speciesinclude oxo transition metal complexes.

[0702] Representative examples of vanadium complexes include oxovanadium complexes such as vanadate and vanadyl complexes. Suitablevanadate complexes include metavanadate and orthovanadate complexes suchas, for example, ammonium metavanadate, sodium metavanadate, and sodiumorthovanadate. Suitable vanadyl complexes include, for example, vanadylacetylacetonate and vanadyl sulfate including vanadyl sulfate hydratessuch as vanadyl sulfate mono- and trihydrates.

[0703] Representative examples of tungsten and molybdenum complexes alsoinclude oxo complexes. Suitable oxo tungsten complexes include tungstateand tungsten oxide complexes. Suitable tungstate complexes includeammonium tungstate, calcium tungstate, sodium tungstate dihydrate, andtungstic acid. Suitable tungsten oxides include tungsten (IV) oxide andtungsten (VI) oxide. Suitable oxo molybdenum complexes includemolybdate, molybdenum oxide, and molybdenyl complexes. Suitablemolybdate complexes include ammonium molybdate and its hydrates, sodiummolybdate and its hydrates, and potassium molybdate and its hydrates.Suitable molybdenum oxides include molybdenum (VI) oxide, molybdenum(VI) oxide, and molybdic acid. Suitable molybdenyl complexes include,for example, molybdenyl acetylacetonate. Other suitable tungsten andmolybdenum complexes include hydroxo derivatives derived from, forexample, glycerol, tartaric acid, and sugars.

[0704] A wide variety of other anti-angiogenic factors may also beutilized within the context of the present invention. Representativeexamples include platelet factor 4; protamine sulphate; sulphated chitinderivatives (prepared from queen crab shells), (Murata et al., CancerRes. 51:22-26, 1991); Sulphated Polysaccharide Peptidoglycan Complex(SP-PG) (the function of this compound may be enhanced by the presenceof steroids such as estrogen, and tamoxifen citrate); Staurosporine;modulators of matrix metabolism, including for example, proline analogs,cishydroxyproline, d,L-3,4-dehydroproline, Thiaproline,alpha,alpha-dipyridyl, aminopropionitrile fumarate;4-propyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(3H)-oxazolone; Methotrexate; Mitoxantrone;Heparin; Interferons; 2 Macroglobulin-serum; ChIMP-3 (Pavloff et al., J.Bio. Chem. 267:17321-17326, 1992); Chymostatin (Tomkinson et al.,Biochem J. 286:475-480, 1992); Cyclodextrin Tetradecasulfate;Eponemycin; Camptothecin; Fumagillin (Ingber et al., Nature 348:555-557,1990); Gold Sodium Thiomalate (“GST”; Matsubara and Ziff, J. Clin.Invest. 79:1440-1446, 1987); anticollagenase-serum; alpha2-antiplasmin(Holmes et al., J. Biol. Chem. 262(4):1659-1664, 1987); Bisantrene(National Cancer Institute); Lobenzarit disodium(N-(2)-carboxyphenyl-4-chloroanthronilic acid disodium or “CCA”;Takeuchi et al., Agents Actions 36:312-316, 1992); Thalidomide;Angostatic steroid; AGM-1470; carboxynaminolmidazole; andmetalloproteinase inhibitors such as BB94.

[0705] Diseases at the Cellular Level

[0706] Diseases associated with increased cell survival or theinhibition of apoptosis that could be treated, prevented, diagnosed,and/or prognosed using polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well asantagonists or agonists of the present invention, include cancers (suchas follicular lymphomas, carcinomas with p53 mutations, andhormone-dependent tumors, including, but not limited to colon cancer,cardiac tumors, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, retinoblastoma,glioblastoma, lung cancer, intestinal cancer, testicular cancer, stomachcancer, neuroblastoma, myxoma, myoma, lymphoma, endothelioma,osteoblastoma, osteoclastoma, osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, adenoma,breast cancer, prostate cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma and ovarian cancer);autoimmune disorders (such as, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome,Hashimoto's thyroiditis, biliary cirrhosis, Behcet's disease, Crohn'sdisease, polymyositis, systemic lupus erythematosus and immune-relatedglomerulonephritis and rheumatoid arthritis) and viral infections (suchas herpes viruses, pox viruses and adenoviruses), inflammation, graft v.host disease, acute graft rejection, and chronic graft rejection.

[0707] In preferred embodiments, polynucleotides, polypeptides, and/orantagonists of the invention are used to inhibit growth, progression,and/or metasis of cancers, in particular those listed above.

[0708] Additional diseases or conditions associated with increased cellsurvival that could be treated or detected by polynucleotides orpolypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of the present inventioninclude, but are not limited to, progression, and/or metastases ofmalignancies and related disorders such as leukemia (including acuteleukemias (e.g., acute lymphocytic leukemia, acute myelocytic leukemia(including myeloblastic, promyelocytic, myelomonocytic, monocytic, anderythroleukemia)) and chronic leukemias (e.g., chronic myelocytic(granulocytic) leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia)), polycythemiavera, lymphomas (e.g., Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's disease),multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, heavy chain disease,and solid tumors including, but not limited to, sarcomas and carcinomassuch as fibrosarcoma, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma,osteogenic sarcoma, chordoma, angiosarcoma, endotheliosarcoma,lymphangiosarcoma, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, synovioma, mesothelioma,Ewing's tumor, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, colon carcinoma,pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer,squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sweatgland carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, papillary carcinoma,papillary adenocarcinomas, cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma,bronchogenic carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, hepatoma, bile ductcarcinoma, choriocarcinoma, seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilm's tumor,cervical cancer, testicular tumor, lung carcinoma, small cell lungcarcinoma, bladder carcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, glioma, astrocytoma,medulloblastoma, craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pinealoma,hemangioblastoma, acoustic neuroma, oligodendroglioma, menangioma,melanoma, neuroblastoma, and retinoblastoma.

[0709] Diseases associated with increased apoptosis that could betreated, prevented, diagnosed, and/or prognesed using polynucleotides orpolypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention, include, but are not limited to, AIDS; neurodegenerativedisorders (such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophiclateral sclerosis, Retinitis pigmentosa, Cerebellar degeneration andbrain tumor or prior associated disease); autoimmune disorders (such as,multiple sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, biliarycirrhosis, Behcet's disease, Crohn's disease, polymyositis, systemiclupus erythematosus and immune-related glomerulonephritis and rheumatoidarthritis) myelodysplastic syndromes (such as aplastic anemia), graft v.host disease, ischemic injury (such as that caused by myocardialinfarction, stroke and reperfusion injury), liver injury (e.g.,hepatitis related liver injury, ischemia/reperfusion injury, cholestosis(bile duct injury) and liver cancer); toxin-induced liver disease (suchas that caused by alcohol), septic shock, cachexia and anorexia.

[0710] Wound Healing and Epithelial Cell Proliferation

[0711] In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention,there is provided a process for utilizing polynucleotides orpolypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention, for therapeutic purposes, for example, to stimulateepithelial cell proliferation and basal keratinocytes for the purpose ofwound healing, and to stimulate hair follicle production and healing ofdermal wounds. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, may be clinically useful instimulating wound healing including surgical wounds, excisional wounds,deep wounds involving damage of the dermis and epidermis, eye tissuewounds, dental tissue wounds, oral cavity wounds, diabetic ulcers,dermal ulcers, cubitus ulcers, arterial ulcers, venous stasis ulcers,bums resulting from heat exposure or chemicals, and other abnormal woundhealing conditions such as uremia, malnutrition, vitamin deficienciesand complications associated with systemic treatment with steroids,radiation therapy and antineoplastic drugs and antimetabolites.Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention, could be used to promote dermal reestablishmentsubsequent to dermal loss

[0712] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, could be used to increase theadherence of skin grafts to a wound bed and to stimulatere-epithelialization from the wound bed. The following are types ofgrafts that polynucleotides or polypeptides, agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention, could be used to increase adherence to a woundbed: autografts, artificial skin, allografts, autodermic graft,autoepdermic grafts, avacular grafts, Blair-Brown grafts, bone graft,brephoplastic grafts, cutis graft, delayed graft, dermic graft,epidermic graft, fascia graft, full thickness graft, heterologous graft,xenograft, homologous graft, hyperplastic graft, lamellar graft, meshgraft, mucosal graft, Ollier-Thiersch graft, omenpal graft, patch graft,pedicle graft, penetrating graft, split skin graft, thick split graft.Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention, can be used to promote skin strength and toimprove the appearance of aged skin.

[0713] It is believed that polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well asagonists or antagonists of the present invention, will also producechanges in hepatocyte proliferation, and epithelial cell proliferationin the lung, breast, pancreas, stomach, small intestine, and largeintestine. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, could promote proliferation ofepithelial cells such as sebocytes, hair follicles, hepatocytes, type IIpneumocytes, mucin-producing goblet cells, and other epithelial cellsand their progenitors contained within the skin, lung, liver, andgastrointestinal tract. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, agonists orantagonists of the present invention, may promote proliferation ofendothelial cells, keratinocytes, and basal keratinocytes.

[0714] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, could also be used to reduce theside effects of gut toxicity that result from radiation, chemotherapytreatments or viral infections. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as wellas agonists or antagonists of the present invention, may have acytoprotective effect on the small intestine mucosa. Polynucleotides orpolypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention, may also stimulate healing of mucositis (mouth ulcers) thatresult from chemotherapy and viral infections.

[0715] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, could further be used in fullregeneration of skin in full and partial thickness skin defects,including burns, (i.e., repopulation of hair follicles, sweat glands,and sebaceous glands), treatment of other skin defects such aspsoriasis. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, could be used to treatepidermolysis bullosa, a defect in adherence of the epidermis to theunderlying derrnis which results in frequent, open and painful blistersby accelerating reepithelialization of these lesions. Polynucleotides orpolypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention, could also be used to treat gastric and doudenal ulcers andhelp heal by scar formation of the mucosal lining and regeneration ofglandular mucosa and duodenal mucosal lining more rapidly. Inflammatorybowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, arediseases which result in destruction of the mucosal surface of the smallor large intestine, respectively. Thus, polynucleotides or polypeptides,as well as agonists or antagonists of the present invention, could beused to promote the resurfacing of the mucosal surface to aid more rapidhealing and to prevent progression of inflammatory bowel disease.Treatment with polynucleotides or polypeptides, agonists or antagonistsof the present invention, is expected to have a significant effect onthe production of mucus throughout the gastrointestinal tract and couldbe used to protect the intestinal mucosa from injurious substances thatare ingested or following surgery. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, aswell as agonists or antagonists of the present invention, could be usedto treat diseases associate with the under expression.

[0716] Moreover, polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, could be used to prevent and healdamage to the lungs due to various pathological states. Polynucleotidesor polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention, which could stimulate proliferation and differentiation andpromote the repair of alveoli and brochiolar epithelium to prevent ortreat acute or chronic lung damage. For example, emphysema, whichresults in the progressive loss of aveoli, and inhalation injuries,i.e., resulting from smoke inhalation and bums, that cause necrosis ofthe bronchiolar epithelium and alveoli could be effectively treatedusing polynucleotides or polypeptides, agonists or antagonists of thepresent invention. Also, polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well asagonists or antagonists of the present invention, could be used tostimulate the proliferation of and differentiation of type IIpneumocytes, which may help treat or prevent disease such as hyalinemembrane diseases, such as infant respiratory distress syndrome andbronchopulmonary displasia, in premature infants.

[0717] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, could stimulate the proliferationand differentiation of hepatocytes and, thus, could be used to alleviateor treat liver diseases and pathologies such as fulminant liver failurecaused by cirrhosis, liver damage caused by viral hepatitis and toxicsubstances (i.e., acetaminophen, carbon tetraholoride and otherhepatotoxins known in the art).

[0718] In addition, polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonistsor antagonists of the present invention, could be used treat or preventthe onset of diabetes mellitus. In patients with newly diagnosed Types Iand II diabetes, where some islet cell function remains, polynucleotidesor polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention, could be used to maintain the islet function so as toalleviate, delay or prevent permanent manifestation of the disease.Also, polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, could be used as an auxiliary inislet cell transplantation to improve or promote islet cell function.

[0719] Neural Activity and Neurological Diseases

[0720] The polynucleotides, polypeptides and agonists or antagonists ofthe invention may be used for the diagnosis and/or treatment ofdiseases, disorders, damage or injury of the brain and/or nervoussystem. Nervous system disorders that can be treated with thecompositions of the invention (e.g., polypeptides, polynucleotides,and/or agonists or antagonists), include, but are not limited to,nervous system injuries, and diseases or disorders which result ineither a disconnection of axons, a diminution or degeneration ofneurons, or demyelination. Nervous system lesions which may be treatedin a patient (including human and non-human mammalian patients)according to the methods of the invention, include but are not limitedto, the following lesions of either the central (including spinal cord,brain) or peripheral nervous systems: (1) ischemic lesions, in which alack of oxygen in a portion of the nervous system results in neuronalinjury or death, including cerebral infarction or ischemia, or spinalcord infarction or ischemia; (2) traumatic lesions, including lesionscaused by physical injury or associated with surgery, for example,lesions which sever a portion of the nervous system, or compressioninjuries; (3) malignant lesions, in which a portion of the nervoussystem is destroyed or injured by malignant tissue which is either anervous system associated malignancy or a malignancy derived fromnon-nervous system tissue; (4) infectious lesions, in which a portion ofthe nervous system is destroyed or injured as a result of infection, forexample, by an abscess or associated with infection by humanimmunodeficiency virus, herpes zoster, or herpes simplex virus or withLyme disease, tuberculosis, or syphilis; (5) degenerative lesions, inwhich a portion of the nervous system is destroyed or injured as aresult of a degenerative process including but not limited to,degeneration associated with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease,Huntington's chorea, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); (6) lesionsassociated with nutritional diseases or disorders, in which a portion ofthe nervous system is destroyed or injured by a nutritional disorder ordisorder of metabolism including, but not limited to, vitamin B12deficiency, folic acid deficiency, Wemicke disease, tobacco-alcoholamblyopia, Marchiafava-Bignami disease (primary degeneration of thecorpus callosum), and alcoholic cerebellar degeneration; (7)neurological lesions associated with systemic diseases including, butnot limited to, diabetes (diabetic neuropathy, Bell's palsy), systemiclupus erythematosus, carcinoma, or sarcoidosis; (8) lesions caused bytoxic substances including alcohol, lead, or particular neurotoxins; and(9) demyelinated lesions in which a portion of the nervous system isdestroyed or injured by a demyelinating disease including, but notlimited to, multiple sclerosis, human immunodeficiency virus-associatedmyelopathy, transverse myelopathy or various etiologies, progressivemultifocal leukoencephalopathy, and central pontine myelinolysis.

[0721] In one embodiment, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonistsor antagonists of the invention are used to protect neural cells fromthe damaging effects of hypoxia. In a further preferred embodiment, thepolypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists or antagonists of theinvention are used to protect neural cells from the damaging effects ofcerebral hypoxia. According to this embodiment, the compositions of theinvention are used to treat or prevent neural cell injury associatedwith cerebral hypoxia. In one non-exclusive aspect of this embodiment,the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists or antagonists of theinvention, are used to treat or prevent neural cell injury associatedwith cerebral ischemia. In another non-exclusive aspect of thisembodiment, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists orantagonists of the invention are used to treat or prevent neural cellinjury associated with cerebral infarction.

[0722] In another preferred embodiment, the polypeptides,polynucleotides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention are used totreat or prevent neural cell injury associated with a stroke. In aspecific embodiment, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists orantagonists of the invention are used to treat or prevent cerebralneural cell injury associated with a stroke.

[0723] In another preferred embodiment, the polypeptides,polynucleotides, or agonists or antagonists of the invention are used totreat or prevent neural cell injury associated with a heart attack. In aspecific embodiment, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonists orantagonists of the invention are used to treat or prevent cerebralneural cell injury associated with a heart attack.

[0724] The compositions of the invention which are useful for treatingor preventing a nervous system disorder may be selected by testing forbiological activity in promoting the survival or differentiation ofneurons. For example, and not by way of limitation, compositions of theinvention which elicit any of the following effects may be usefulaccording to the invention: (1) increased survival time of neurons inculture either in the presence or absence of hypoxia or hypoxicconditions; (2) increased sprouting of neurons in culture or in vivo;(3) increased production of a neuron-associated molecule in culture orin vivo, e.g., choline acetyltransferase or acetylcholinesterase withrespect to motor neurons; or (4) decreased symptoms of neurondysfunction in vivo. Such effects may be measured by any method known inthe art. In preferred, non-limiting embodiments, increased survival ofneurons may routinely be measured using a method set forth herein orotherwise known in the art, such as, for example, in Zhang et al., ProcNatl Acad Sci USA 97:3637-42 (2000) or in Arakawa et al., J. Neurosci.,10:3507-15 (1990); increased sprouting of neurons may be detected bymethods known in the art, such as, for example, the methods set forth inPestronk et al., Exp. Neurol., 70:65-82 (1980), or Brown et al., Ann.Rev. Neurosci., 4:17-42 (1981); increased production ofneuron-associated molecules may be measured by bioassay, enzymaticassay, antibody binding, Northern blot assay, etc., using techniquesknown in the art and depending on the molecule to be measured; and motorneuron dysfunction may be measured by assessing the physicalmanifestation of motor neuron disorder, e.g., weakness, motor neuronconduction velocity, or functional disability.

[0725] In specific embodiments, motor neuron disorders that may betreated according to the invention include, but are not limited to,disorders such as infarction, infection, exposure to toxin, trauma,surgical damage, degenerative disease or malignancy that may affectmotor neurons as well as other components of the nervous system, as wellas disorders that selectively affect neurons such as amyotrophic lateralsclerosis, and including, but not limited to, progressive spinalmuscular atrophy, progressive bulbar palsy, primary lateral sclerosis,infantile and juvenile muscular atrophy, progressive bulbar paralysis ofchildhood (Fazio-Londe syndrome), poliomyelitis and the post poliosyndrome, and Hereditary Motorsensory Neuropathy (Charcot-Marie-ToothDisease).

[0726] Further, polypeptides or polynucleotides of the invention mayplay a role in neuronal survival; synapse formation; conductance; neuraldifferentiation, etc. Thus, compositions of the invention (includingpolynucleotides, polypeptides, and agonists or antagonists) may be usedto diagnose and/or treat or prevent diseases or disorders associatedwith these roles, including, but not limited to, learning and/orcognition disorders. The compositions of the invention may also beuseful in the treatment or prevention of neurodegenerative diseasestates and/or behavioural disorders. Such neurodegenerative diseasestates and/or behavioral disorders include, but are not limited to,Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Huntington's Disease, TouretteSyndrome, schizophrenia, mania, dementia, paranoia, obsessive compulsivedisorder, panic disorder, learning disabilities, ALS, psychoses, autism,and altered behaviors, including disorders in feeding, sleep patterns,balance, and perception. In addition, compositions of the invention mayalso play a role in the treatment, prevention and/or detection ofdevelopmental disorders associated with the developing embryo, orsexually-linked disorders.

[0727] Additionally, polypeptides, polynucleotides and/or agonists orantagonists of the invention, may be useful in protecting neural cellsfrom diseases, damage, disorders, or injury, associated withcerebrovascular disorders including, but not limited to, carotid arterydiseases (e.g., carotid artery thrombosis, carotid stenosis, or MoyamoyaDisease), cerebral amyloid angiopathy, cerebral aneurysm, cerebralanoxia, cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebral arteriovenous malformations,cerebral artery diseases, cerebral embolism and thrombosis (e.g.,carotid artery thrombosis, sinus thrombosis, or Wallenberg's Syndrome),cerebral hemorrhage (e.g., epidural or subdural hematoma, orsubarachnoid hemorrhage), cerebral infarction, cerebral ischemia (e.g.,transient cerebral ischemia, Subclavian Steal Syndrome, orvertebrobasilar insufficiency), vascular dementia (e.g., multi-infarct),leukomalacia, periventricular, and vascular headache (e.g., clusterheadache or migraines).

[0728] In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention,there is provided a process for utilizing polynucleotides orpolypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention, for therapeutic purposes, for example, to stimulateneurological cell proliferation and/or differentiation. Therefore,polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists and/or antagonists of theinvention may be used to treat and/or detect neurologic diseases.Moreover, polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists ofthe invention, can be used as a marker or detector of a particularnervous system disease or disorder.

[0729] Examples of neurologic diseases which can be treated or detectedwith polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include brain diseases, such as metabolic braindiseases which includes phenylketonuria such as maternalphenylketonuria, pyruvate carboxylase deficiency, pyruvate dehydrogenasecomplex deficiency, Wernicke's Encephalopathy, brain edema, brainneoplasms such as cerebellar neoplasms which include infratentorialneoplasms, cerebral ventricle neoplasms such as choroid plexusneoplasms, hypothalamic neoplasms, supratentorial neoplasms, canavandisease, cerebellar diseases such as cerebellar ataxia which includespinocerebellar degeneration such as ataxia telangiectasia, cerebellardyssynergia, Friederich's Ataxia, Machado-Joseph Disease,olivopontocerebellar atrophy, cerebellar neoplasms such asinfratentorial neoplasms, diffuse cerebral sclerosis such asencephalitis periaxialis, globoid cell leukodystrophy, metachromaticleukodystrophy and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

[0730] Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detectedwith polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include cerebrovascular disorders (such as carotidartery diseases which include carotid artery thrombosis, carotidstenosis and Moyamoya Disease), cerebral amyloid angiopathy, cerebralaneurysm, cerebral anoxia, cerebral arteriosclerosis, cerebralarteriovenous malformations, cerebral artery diseases, cerebral embolismand thrombosis such as carotid artery thrombosis, sinus thrombosis andWallenberg's Syndrome, cerebral hemorrhage such as epidural hematoma,subdural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral infarction,cerebral ischemia such as transient cerebral ischemia, Subclavian StealSyndrome and vertebrobasilar insufficiency, vascular dementia such asmulti-infarct dementia, periventricular leukomalacia, vascular headachesuch as cluster headache and migraine.

[0731] Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detectedwith polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include dementia such as AIDS Dementia Complex,presenile dementia such as Alzheimer's Disease and Creutzfeldt-JakobSyndrome, senile dementia such as Alzheimer's Disease and progressivesupranuclear palsy, vascular dementia such as multi-infarct dementia,encephalitis which include encephalitis periaxialis, viral encephalitissuch as epidemic encephalitis, Japanese Encephalitis, St. LouisEncephalitis, tick-borne encephalitis and West Nile Fever, acutedisseminated encephalomyelitis, meningoencephalitis such asuveomeningoencephalitic syndrome, Postencephalitic Parkinson Disease andsubacute sclerosing panencephalitis, encephalomalacia such asperiventricular leukomalacia, epilepsy such as generalized epilepsywhich includes infantile spasms, absence epilepsy, myoclonic epilepsywhich includes MERRF Syndrome, tonic-clonic epilepsy, partial epilepsysuch as complex partial epilepsy, frontal lobe epilepsy and temporallobe epilepsy, post-traumatic epilepsy, status epilepticus such asEpilepsia Partialis Continua, and Hallervorden-Spatz Syndrome.

[0732] Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detectedwith polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include hydrocephalus such as Dandy-Walker Syndromeand normal pressure hydrocephalus, hypothalamic diseases such ashypothalamic neoplasms, cerebral malaria, narcolepsy which includescataplexy, bulbar poliomyelitis, cerebri pseudotumor, Rett Syndrome,Reye's Syndrome, thalamic diseases, cerebral toxoplasmosis, intracranialtuberculoma and Zellweger Syndrome, central nervous system infectionssuch as AIDS Dementia Complex, Brain Abscess, subdural empyema,encephalomyelitis such as Equine Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan EquineEncephalomyelitis, Necrotizing Hemorrhagic Encephalomyelitis, Visna, andcerebral malaria.

[0733] Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detectedwith polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include meningitis such as arachnoiditis, asepticmeningtitis such as viral meningtitis which includes lymphocyticchoriomeningitis, Bacterial meningtitis which includes HaemophilusMeningtitis, Listeria Meningtitis, Meningococcal Meningtitis such asWaterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome, Pneumococcal Meningtitis and meningealtuberculosis, fungal meningitis such as Cryptococcal Meningtitis,subdural effusion, meningoencephalitis such as uvemeningoencephaliticsyndrome, myelitis such as transverse myelitis, neurosyphilis such astabes dorsalis, poliomyelitis which includes bulbar poliomyelitis andpostpoliomyelitis syndrome, prion diseases (such as Creutzfeldt-JakobSyndrome, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, Gerstmann-StrausslerSyndrome, Kuru, Scrapie), and cerebral toxoplasmosis.

[0734] Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detectedwith polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include central nervous system neoplasms such as brainneoplasms that include cerebellar neoplasms such as infratentorialneoplasms, cerebral ventricle neoplasms such as choroid plexusneoplasms, hypothalamic neoplasms and supratentorial neoplasms,meningeal neoplasms, spinal cord neoplasms which include epiduralneoplasms, demyelinating diseases such as Canavan Diseases, diffusecerebral sceloris which includes adrenoleukodystrophy, encephalitisperiaxialis, globoid cell leukodystrophy, diffuse cerebral sclerosissuch as metachromatic leukodystrophy, allergic encephalomyelitis,necrotizing hemorrhagic encephalomyelitis, progressive multifocalleukoencephalopathy, multiple sclerosis, central pontine myelinolysis,transverse myelitis, neuromyelitis optica, Scrapie, Swayback, ChronicFatigue Syndrome, Visna, High Pressure Nervous Syndrome, Meningism,spinal cord diseases such as amyotonia congenita, amyotrophic lateralsclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy such as Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease,spinal cord compression, spinal cord neoplasms such as epiduralneoplasms, syringomyelia, Tabes Dorsalis, Stiff-Man Syndrome, mentalretardation such as Angelman Syndrome, Cri-du-Chat Syndrome, De Lange'sSyndrome, Down Syndrome, Gangliosidoses such as gangliosidoses G(M1),Sandhoff Disease, Tay-Sachs Disease, Hartnup Disease, homocystinuria,Laurence-Moon-Biedl Syndrome, Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome, Maple Syrup UrineDisease, mucolipidosis such as fucosidosis, neuronalceroid-lipofuscinosis, oculocerebrorenal syndrome, phenylketonuria suchas maternal phenylketonuria, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Rett Syndrome,Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis, WAGR Syndrome, nervoussystem abnormalities such as holoprosencephaly, neural tube defects suchas anencephaly which includes hydrangencephaly, Arnold-Chairi Deformity,encephalocele, meningocele, meningomyelocele, spinal dysraphism such asspina bifida cystica and spina bifida occulta.

[0735] Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detectedwith polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include hereditary motor and sensory neuropathieswhich include Charcot-Marie Disease, Hereditary optic atrophy, Refsum'sDisease, hereditary spastic paraplegia, Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease,Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathies such as CongenitalAnalgesia and Familial Dysautonomia, Neurologic manifestations (such asagnosia that include Gerstmann's Syndrome, Amnesia such as retrogradeamnesia, apraxia, neurogenic bladder, cataplexy, communicative disorderssuch as hearing disorders that includes deafness, partial hearing loss,loudness recruitment and tinnitus, language disorders such as aphasiawhich include agraphia, anomia, broca aphasia, and Wemicke Aphasia,Dyslexia such as Acquired Dyslexia, language development disorders,speech disorders such as aphasia which includes anomia, broca aphasiaand Wernicke Aphasia, articulation disorders, communicative disorderssuch as speech disorders which include dysarthria, echolalia, mutism andstuttering, voice disorders such as aphonia and hoarseness, decerebratestate, delirium, fasciculation, hallucinations, meningism, movementdisorders such as angelman syndrome, ataxia, athetosis, chorea,dystonia, hypokinesia, muscle hypotonia, myoclonus, tic, torticollis andtremor, muscle hypertonia such as muscle rigidity such as stiff-mansyndrome, muscle spasticity, paralysis such as facial paralysis whichincludes Herpes Zoster Oticus, Gastroparesis, Hemiplegia,ophthalmoplegia such as diplopia, Duane's Syndrome, Homer's Syndrome,Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia such as Kearns Syndrome,Bulbar Paralysis, Tropical Spastic Paraparesis, Paraplegia such asBrown-Sequard Syndrome, quadriplegia, respiratory paralysis and vocalcord paralysis, paresis, phantom limb, taste disorders such as ageusiaand dysgeusia, vision disorders such as amblyopia, blindness, colorvision defects, diplopia, hemianopsia, scotoma and subnormal vision,sleep disorders such as hypersomnia which includes Kleine-LevinSyndrome, insomnia, and somnambulism, spasm such as trismus,unconsciousness such as coma, persistent vegetative state and syncopeand vertigo, neuromuscular diseases such as amyotonia congenita,amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome, motorneuron disease, muscular atrophy such as spinal muscular atrophy,Charcot-Marie Disease and Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease, PostpoliomyelitisSyndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, Myasthenia Gravis, Myotonia Atrophica,Myotonia Confenita, Nemaline Myopathy, Familial Periodic Paralysis,Multiplex Paramyloclonus, Tropical Spastic Paraparesis and Stiff-ManSyndrome, peripheral nervous system diseases such as acrodynia, amyloidneuropathies, autonomic nervous system diseases such as Adie's Syndrome,Barre-Lieou Syndrome, Familial Dysautonomia, Homer's Syndrome, ReflexSympathetic Dystrophy and Shy-Drager Syndrome, Cranial Nerve Diseasessuch as Acoustic Nerve Diseases such as Acoustic Neuroma which includesNeurofibromatosis 2, Facial Nerve Diseases such as Facial Neuralgia,Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome, ocular motility disorders which includesamblyopia, nystagmus, oculomotor nerve paralysis, ophthalmoplegia suchas Duane's Syndrome, Homer's Syndrome, Chronic Progressive ExternalOphthalmoplegia which includes Kearns Syndrome, Strabismus such asEsotropia and Exotropia, Oculomotor Nerve Paralysis, Optic NerveDiseases such as Optic Atrophy which includes Hereditary Optic Atrophy,Optic Disk Drusen, Optic Neuritis such as Neuromyelitis Optica,Papilledema, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Vocal Cord Paralysis, DemyelinatingDiseases such as Neuromyelitis Optica and Swayback, and Diabeticneuropathies such as diabetic foot.

[0736] Additional neurologic diseases which can be treated or detectedwith polynucleotides, polypeptides, agonists, and/or antagonists of thepresent invention include nerve compression syndromes such as carpaltunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome suchas cervical rib syndrome, ulnar nerve compression syndrome, neuralgiasuch as causalgia, cervico-brachial neuralgia, facial neuralgia andtrigeminal neuralgia, neuritis such as experimental allergic neuritis,optic neuritis, polyneuritis, polyradiculoneuritis and radiculities suchas polyradiculitis, hereditary motor and sensory neuropathies such asCharcot-Marie Disease, Hereditary Optic Atrophy, Refsum's Disease,Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia and Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease, HereditarySensory and Autonomic Neuropathies which include Congenital Analgesiaand Familial Dysautonomia, POEMS Syndrome, Sciatica, Gustatory Sweatingand Tetany).

[0737] Endocrine Disorders

[0738] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention, may be used to treat, prevent, diagnose, and/orprognose disorders and/or diseases related to hormone imbalance, and/ordisorders or diseases of the endocrine system.

[0739] Hormones secreted by the glands of the endocrine system controlphysical growth, sexual function, metabolism, and other functions.Disorders may be classified in two ways: disturbances in the productionof hormones, and the inability of tissues to respond to hormones. Theetiology of these hormone imbalance or endocrine system diseases,disorders or conditions may be genetic, somatic, such as cancer and someautoimmune diseases, acquired (e.g., by chemotherapy, injury or toxins),or infectious. Moreover, polynucleotides, polypeptides, antibodies,and/or agonists or antagonists of the present invention can be used as amarker or detector of a particular disease or disorder related to theendocrine system and/or hormone imbalance.

[0740] Endocrine system and/or hormone imbalance and/or diseasesencompass disorders of uterine motility including, but not limited to:complications with pregnancy and labor (e.g., pre-term labor, post-termpregnancy, spontaneous abortion, and slow or stopped labor); anddisorders and/or diseases of the menstrual cycle (e.g., dysmenorrhea andendometriosis).

[0741] Endocrine system and/or hormone imbalance disorders and/ordiseases include disorders and/or diseases of the pancreas, such as, forexample, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, congenital pancreaticagenesis, pheochromocytoma—islet cell tumor syndrome; disorders and/ordiseases of the adrenal glands such as, for example, Addison's Disease,corticosteroid deficiency, virilizing disease, hirsutism, Cushing'sSyndrome, hyperaldosteronism, pheochromocytoma; disorders and/ordiseases of the pituitary gland, such as, for example, hyperpituitarism,hypopituitarism, pituitary dwarfism, pituitary adenoma,panhypopituitarism, acromegaly, gigantism; disorders and/or diseases ofthe thyroid, including but not limited to, hyperthyroidism,hypothyroidism, Plummer's disease, Graves' disease (toxic diffusegoiter), toxic nodular goiter, thyroiditis (Hashimoto's thyroiditis,subacute granulomatous thyroiditis, and silent lymphocytic thyroiditis),Pendred's syndrome, myxedema, cretinism, thyrotoxicosis, thyroid hormonecoupling defect, thymic aplasia, Hurthle cell tumours of the thyroid,thyroid cancer, thyroid carcinoma, Medullary thyroid carcinoma;disorders and/or diseases of the parathyroid, such as, for example,hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism; disorders and/or diseases ofthe hypothalamus.

[0742] In addition, endocrine system and/or hormone imbalance disordersand/or diseases may also include disorders and/or diseases of the testesor ovaries, including cancer. Other disorders and/or diseases of thetestes or ovaries further include, for example, ovarian cancer,polycystic ovary syndrome, Klinefelter's syndrome, vanishing testessyndrome (bilateral anorchia), congenital absence of Leydig's cells,cryptorchidism, Noonan's syndrome, myotonic dystrophy, capillaryhaemangioma of the testis (benign), neoplasias of the testis andneo-testis.

[0743] Moreover, endocrine system and/or hormone imbalance disordersand/or diseases may also include disorders and/or diseases such as, forexample, polyglandular deficiency syndromes, pheochromocytoma,neuroblastoma, multiple Endocrine neoplasia, and disorders and/orcancers of endocrine tissues.

[0744] In another embodiment, a polypeptide of the invention, orpolynucleotides, antibodies, agonists, or antagonists corresponding tothat polypeptide, may be used to diagnose, prognose, prevent, and/ortreat endocrine diseases and/or disorders associated with the tissue(s)in which the polypeptide of the invention is expressed, including one,two, three, four, five, or more tissues disclosed in Table 1, column 8(Tissue Distribution Library Code).

[0745] Reproductive System Disorders

[0746] The polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonistsof the invention may be used for the diagnosis, treatment, or preventionof diseases and/or disorders of the reproductive system. Reproductivesystem disorders that can be treated by the compositions of theinvention, include, but are not limited to, reproductive systeminjuries, infections, neoplastic disorders, congenital defects, anddiseases or disorders which result in infertility, complications withpregnancy, labor, or parturition, and postpartum difficulties.

[0747] Reproductive system disorders and/or diseases include diseasesand/or disorders of the testes, including testicular atrophy, testicularfeminization, cryptorchism (unilateral and bilateral), anorchia, ectopictestis, epididymitis and orchitis (typically resulting from infectionssuch as, for example, gonorrhea, mumps, tuberculosis, and syphilis),testicular torsion, vasitis nodosa, germ cell tumors (e.g., seminomas,embryonal cell carcinomas, teratocarcinomas, choriocarcinomas, yolk sactumors, and teratomas), stromal tumors (e.g., Leydig cell tumors),hydrocele, hematocele, varicocele, spermatocele, inguinal hernia, anddisorders of sperm production (e.g., immotile cilia syndrome, aspermia,asthenozoospermia, azoospermia, oligospermia, and teratozoospermia).

[0748] Reproductive system disorders also include disorders of theprostate gland, such as acute non-bacterial prostatitis, chronicnon-bacterial prostatitis, acute bacterial prostatitis, chronicbacterial prostatitis, prostatodystonia, prostatosis, granulomatousprostatitis, malacoplakia, benign prostatic hypertrophy or hyperplasia,and prostate neoplastic disorders, including adenocarcinomas,transitional cell carcinomas, ductal carcinomas, and squamous cellcarcinomas.

[0749] Additionally, the compositions of the invention may be useful inthe diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of disorders or diseases ofthe penis and urethra, including inflammatory disorders, such asbalanoposthitis, balanitis xerotica obliterans, phimosis, paraphimosis,syphilis, herpes simplex virus, gonorrhea, non-gonococcal urethritis,chlamydia, mycoplasma, trichomonas, HIV, AIDS, Reiter's syndrome,condyloma acuminatum, condyloma latum, and pearly penile papules;urethral abnormalities, such as hypospadias, epispadias, and phimosis;premalignant lesions, including Erythroplasia of Queyrat, Bowen'sdisease, Bowenoid paplosis, giant condyloma of Buscke-Lowenstein, andvarrucous carcinoma; penile cancers, including squamous cell carcinomas,carcinoma in situ, verrucous carcinoma, and disseminated penilecarcinoma; urethral neoplastic disorders, including penile urethralcarcinoma, bulbomembranous urethral carcinoma, and prostatic urethralcarcinoma; and erectile disorders, such as priapism, Peyronie's disease,erectile dysfunction, and impotence.

[0750] Moreover, diseases and/or disorders of the vas deferens includevasculititis and CBAVD (congenital bilateral absence of the vasdeferens); additionally, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, and agonistsor antagonists of the present invention may be used in the diagnosis,treatment, and/or prevention of diseases and/or disorders of the seminalvesicles, including hydatid disease, congenital chloride diarrhea, andpolycystic kidney disease.

[0751] Other disorders and/or diseases of the male reproductive systeminclude, for example, Klinefelter's syndrome, Young's syndrome,premature ejaculation, diabetes mellitus, cystic fibrosis, Kartagener'ssyndrome, high fever, multiple sclerosis, and gynecomastia.

[0752] Further, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, and agonists orantagonists of the present invention may be used in the diagnosis,treatment, and/or prevention of diseases and/or disorders of the vaginaand vulva, including bacterial vaginosis, candida vaginitis, herpessimplex virus, chancroid, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum,scabies, human papillomavirus, vaginal trauma, vulvar trauma, adenosis,chlamydia vaginitis, gonorrhea, trichomonas vaginitis, condylomaacuminatum, syphilis, molluscum contagiosum, atrophic vaginitis, Paget'sdisease, lichen sclerosus, lichen planus, vulvodynia, toxic shocksyndrome, vaginismus, vulvovaginitis, vulvar vestibulitis, andneoplastic disorders, such as squamous cell hyperplasia, clear cellcarcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, melanomas, cancer of Bartholin's gland,and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia.

[0753] Disorders and/or diseases of the uterus include dysmenorrhea,retroverted uterus, endometriosis, fibroids, adenomyosis, anovulatorybleeding, amenorrhea, Cushing's syndrome, hydatidiform moles, Asherman'ssyndrome, premature menopause, precocious puberty, uterine polyps,dysfunctional uterine bleeding (e.g., due to aberrant hormonal signals),and neoplastic disorders, such as adenocarcinomas, keiomyosarcomas, andsarcomas. Additionally, the polypeptides, polynucleotides, or agonistsor antagonists of the invention may be useful as a marker or detectorof, as well as in the diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention ofcongenital uterine abnormalities, such as bicornuate uterus, septateuterus, simple unicornuate uterus, unicornuate uterus with a noncavitaryrudimentary horn, unicornuate uterus with a non-communicating cavitaryrudimentary horn, unicornuate uterus with a communicating cavitary horn,arcuate uterus, uterine didelfus, and T-shaped uterus.

[0754] Ovarian diseases and/or disorders include anovulation, polycysticovary syndrome (Stein-Leventhal syndrome), ovarian cysts, ovarianhypofunction, ovarian insensitivity to gonadotropins, ovarianoverproduction of androgens, right ovarian vein syndrome, amenorrhea,hirutism, and ovarian cancer (including, but not limited to, primary andsecondary cancerous growth, Sertoli-Leydig tumors, endometriod carcinomaof the ovary, ovarian papillary serous adenocarcinoma, ovarian mucinousadenocarcinoma, and Ovarian Krukenberg tumors).

[0755] Cervical diseases and/or disorders include cervicitis, chroniccervicitis, mucopurulent cervicitis, cervical dysplasia, cervicalpolyps, Nabothian cysts, cervical erosion, cervical incompetence, andcervical neoplasms (including, for example, cervical carcinoma, squamousmetaplasia, squamous cell carcinoma, adenosquamous cell neoplasia, andcolumnar cell neoplasia).

[0756] Additionally, diseases and/or disorders of the reproductivesystem include disorders and/or diseases of pregnancy, includingmiscarriage and stillbirth, such as early abortion, late abortion,spontaneous abortion, induced abortion, therapeutic abortion, threatenedabortion, missed abortion, incomplete abortion, complete abortion,habitual abortion, missed abortion, and septic abortion; ectopicpregnancy, anemia, Rh incompatibility, vaginal bleeding duringpregnancy, gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth retardation,polyhydramnios, HELLP syndrome, abruptio placentae, placenta previa,hyperemesis, preeclampsia, eclampsia, herpes gestationis, and urticariaof pregnancy. Additionally, the polynucleotides, polypeptides, andagonists or antagonists of the present invention may be used in thediagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of diseases that can complicatepregnancy, including heart disease, heart failure, rheumatic heartdisease, congenital heart disease, mitral valve prolapse, high bloodpressure, anemia, kidney disease, infectious disease (e.g., rubella,cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, infectious hepatitis, chlamydia, HIV,AIDS, and genital herpes), diabetes mellitus, Graves' disease,thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, chronic activehepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, primary biliary cirrhosis, asthma,systemic lupus eryematosis, rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis,idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, appendicitis, ovarian cysts,gallbladder disorders, and obstruction of the intestine.

[0757] Complications associated with labor and parturition includepremature rupture of the membranes, pre-term labor, post-term pregnancy,postmaturity, labor that progresses too slowly, fetal distress (e.g.,abnormal heart rate (fetal or maternal), breathing problems, andabnormal fetal position), shoulder dystocia, prolapsed umbilical cord,amniotic fluid embolism, and aberrant uterine bleeding.

[0758] Further, diseases and/or disorders of the postdelivery period,including endometritis, myometritis, parametritis, peritonitis, pelvicthrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism, endotoxemia, pyelonephritis,saphenous thrombophlebitis, mastitis, cystitis, postpartum hemorrhage,and inverted uterus.

[0759] Other disorders and/or diseases of the female reproductive systemthat may be diagnosed, treated, and/or prevented by the polynucleotides,polypeptides, and agonists or antagonists of the present inventioninclude, for example, Turner's syndrome, pseudohermaphroditism,premenstrual syndrome, pelvic inflammatory disease, pelvic congestion(vascular engorgement), frigidity, anorgasmia, dyspareunia, rupturedfallopian tube, and Mittelschmerz.

[0760] Infectious Disease

[0761] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention can be used to treat or detectinfectious agents. For example, by increasing the immune response,particularly increasing the proliferation and differentiation of Band/or T cells, infectious diseases may be treated. The immune responsemay be increased by either enhancing an existing immune response, or byinitiating a new immune response. Alternatively, polynucleotides orpolypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention may also directly inhibit the infectious agent, withoutnecessarily eliciting an immune response.

[0762] Viruses are one example of an infectious agent that can causedisease or symptoms that can be treated or detected by a polynucleotideor polypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present invention.Examples of viruses, include, but are not limited to Examples ofviruses, include, but are not limited to the following DNA and RNAviruses and viral families: Arbovirus, Adenoviridae, Arenaviridae,Arterivirus, Birnaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Caliciviridae, Circoviridae,Coronaviridae, Dengue, EBV, HIV, Flaviviridae, Hepadnaviridae(Hepatitis), Herpesviridae (such as, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Simplex,Herpes Zoster), Mononegavirus (e.g., Paramyxoviridae, Morbillivirus,Rhabdoviridae), Orthomyxoviridae (e.g., Influenza A, Influenza B, andparainfluenza), Papiloma virus, Papovaviridae, Parvoviridae,Picornaviridae, Poxyiridae (such as Smallpox or Vaccinia), Reoviridae(e.g., Rotavirus), Retroviridae (HTLV-I, HTLV-II, Lentivirus), andTogaviridae (e.g., Rubivirus). Viruses falling within these families cancause a variety of diseases or symptoms, including, but not limited to:arthritis, bronchiollitis, respiratory syncytial virus, encephalitis,eye infections (e.g., conjunctivitis, keratitis), chronic fatiguesyndrome, hepatitis (A, B, C, E, Chronic Active, Delta), Japanese Bencephalitis, Junin, Chikungunya, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever,meningitis, opportunistic infections (e.g., AIDS), pneumonia, Burkitt'sLymphoma, chickenpox, hemorrhagic fever, Measles, Mumps, Parainfluenza,Rabies, the common cold, Polio, leukemia, Rubella, sexually transmitteddiseases, skin diseases (e.g., Kaposi's, warts), and viremia.polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of theinvention, can be used to treat or detect any of these symptoms ordiseases. In specific embodiments, polynucleotides, polypeptides, oragonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat: meningitis,Dengue, EBV, and/or hepatitis (e.g., hepatitis B). In an additionalspecific embodiment polynucleotides, polypeptides, or agonists orantagonists of the invention are used to treat patients nonresponsive toone or more other commercially available hepatitis vaccines. In afurther specific embodiment polynucleotides, polypeptides, or agonistsor antagonists of the invention are used to treat AIDS.

[0763] Similarly, bacterial and fungal agents that can cause disease orsymptoms and that can be treated or detected by a polynucleotide orpolypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present inventioninclude, but not limited to, the following Gram-Negative andGram-positive bacteria, bacterial families, and fungi: Actinomyces(e.g., Norcardia), Acinetobacter, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus,Bacillaceae (e.g., Bacillus anthrasis), Bacteroides (e.g., Bacteroidesfragilis), Blastomycosis, Bordetella, Borrelia (e.g., Borreliaburgdorferi), Brucella, Candidia, Campylobacter, Chlamydia, Clostridium(e.g., Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium dificile, Clostridiumperfringens, Clostridium tetani), Coccidioides, Corynebacterium (e.g.,Corynebacterium diptheriae), Cryptococcus, Dermatocycoses, E. coli(e.g., Enterotoxigenic E. coli and Enterohemorrhagic E. coli),Enterobacter (e.g. Enterobacter aerogenes), Enterobacteriaceae(Klebsiella, Salmonella (e.g., Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enteritidis,Salmonella typhi), Serratia, Yersinia, Shigella), Erysipelothrix,Haemophilus (e.g., Haemophilus influenza type B), Helicobacter,Legionella (e.g., Legionella pneumophila), Leptospira, Listeria (e.g.,Listeria monocytogenes), Mycoplasma, Mycobacterium (e.g., Mycobacteriumleprae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis), Vibrio (e.g., Vibrio cholerae),Neisseriaceae (e.g., Neisseria gonorrhea, Neisseria meningitidis),Pasteurellacea, Proteus, Pseudomonas (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa),Rickettsiaceae, Spirochetes (e.g., Treponema spp., Leptospira spp.,Borrelia spp.), Shigella spp., Staphylococcus (e.g., Staphylococcusaureus), Meningiococcus, Pneumococcus and Streptococcus (e.g.,Streptococcus pneumoniae and Groups A, B, and C Streptococci), andUreaplasmas. These bacterial, parasitic, and fungal families can causediseases or symptoms, including, but not limited to:antibiotic-resistant infections, bacteremia, endocarditis, septicemia,eye infections (e.g., conjunctivitis), uveitis, tuberculosis,gingivitis, bacterial diarrhea, opportunistic infections (e.g., AIDSrelated infections), paronychia, prosthesis-related infections, dentalcaries, Reiter's Disease, respiratory tract infections, such as WhoopingCough or Empyema, sepsis, Lyme Disease, Cat-Scratch Disease, dysentery,paratyphoid fever, food poisoning, Legionella disease, chronic and acuteinflammation, erythema, yeast infections, typhoid, pneumonia, gonorrhea,meningitis (e.g., mengitis types A and B), chlamydia, syphillis,diphtheria, leprosy, brucellosis, peptic ulcers, anthrax, spontaneousabortions, birth defects, pneumonia, lung infections, ear infections,deafness, blindness, lethargy, malaise, vomiting, chronic diarrhea,Crohn's disease, colitis, vaginosis, sterility, pelvic inflammatorydiseases, candidiasis, paratuberculosis, tuberculosis, lupus, botulism,gangrene, tetanus, impetigo, Rheumatic Fever, Scarlet Fever, sexuallytransmitted diseases, skin diseases (e.g., cellulitis, dermatocycoses),toxemia, urinary tract infections, wound infections, noscomialinfections. Polynucleotides or polypeptides, agonists or antagonists ofthe invention, can be used to treat or detect any of these symptoms ordiseases. In specific embodiments, polynucleotides, polypeptides,agonists or antagonists of the invention are used to treat: tetanus,diptheria, botulism, and/or meningitis type B.

[0764] Moreover, parasitic agents causing disease or symptoms that canbe treated, prevented, and/or diagnosed by a polynucleotide orpolypeptide and/or agonist or antagonist of the present inventioninclude, but not limited to, the following families or class: Amebiasis,Babesiosis, Coccidiosis, Cryptosporidiosis, Dientamoebiasis, Dourine,Ectoparasitic, Giardias, Helminthiasis, Leishmaniasis, Schistisoma,Theileriasis, Toxoplasmosis, Trypanosomiasis, and Trichomonas andSporozoans (e.g., Plasmodium virax, Plasmodiumfalciparium, Plasmodiummalariae and Plasmodium ovale). These parasites can cause a variety ofdiseases or symptoms, including, but not limited to: Scabies,Trombiculiasis, eye infections, intestinal disease (e.g., dysentery,giardiasis), liver disease, lung disease, opportunistic infections(e.g., AIDS related), malaria, pregnancy complications, andtoxoplasmosis. polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists orantagonists of the invention, can be used to treat, prevent, and/ordiagnose any of these symptoms or diseases. In specific embodiments,polynucleotides, polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists of theinvention are used to treat, prevent, and/or diagnose malaria.

[0765] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention of the present invention couldeither be by administering an effective amount of a polypeptide to thepatient, or by removing cells from the patient, supplying the cells witha polynucleotide of the present invention, and returning the engineeredcells to the patient (ex vivo therapy). Moreover, the polypeptide orpolynucleotide of the present invention can be used as an antigen in avaccine to raise an immune response against infectious disease.

[0766] Regeneration

[0767] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention can be used to differentiate,proliferate, and attract cells, leading to the regeneration of tissues.(See, Science 276:59-87 (1997)). The regeneration of tissues could beused to repair, replace, or protect tissue damaged by congenitaldefects, trauma (wounds, bums, incisions, or ulcers), age, disease (e.g.osteoporosis, osteocarthritis, periodontal disease, liver failure),surgery, including cosmetic plastic surgery, fibrosis, reperfusioninjury, or systemic cytokine damage.

[0768] Tissues that could be regenerated using the present inventioninclude organs (e.g., pancreas, liver, intestine, kidney, skin,endothelium), muscle (smooth, skeletal or cardiac), vasculature(including vascular and lymphatics), nervous, hematopoietic, andskeletal (bone, cartilage, tendon, and ligament) tissue. Preferably,regeneration occurs without or decreased scarring. Regeneration also mayinclude angiogenesis.

[0769] Moreover, polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, may increase regeneration oftissues difficult to heal. For example, increased tendon/ligamentregeneration would quicken recovery time after damage. Polynucleotidesor polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists of the presentinvention could also be used prophylactically in an effort to avoiddamage. Specific diseases that could be treated include of tendinitis,carpal tunnel syndrome, and other tendon or ligament defects. A furtherexample of tissue regeneration of non-healing wounds includes pressureulcers, ulcers associated with vascular insufficiency, surgical, andtraumatic wounds.

[0770] Similarly, nerve and brain tissue could also be regenerated byusing polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention, to proliferate and differentiatenerve cells. Diseases that could be treated using this method includecentral and peripheral nervous system diseases, neuropathies, ormechanical and traumatic disorders (e.g., spinal cord disorders, headtrauma, cerebrovascular disease, and stoke). Specifically, diseasesassociated with peripheral nerve injuries, peripheral neuropathy (e.g.,resulting from chemotherapy or other medical therapies), localizedneuropathies, and central nervous system diseases (e.g., Alzheimer'sdisease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateralsclerosis, and Shy-Drager syndrome), could all be treated using thepolynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention.

[0771] Gastrointestinal Disorders

[0772] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, or agonists or antagonists ofthe present invention, may be used to treat, prevent, diagnose, and/orprognose gastrointestinal disorders, including inflammatory diseasesand/or conditions, infections, cancers (e.g., intestinal neoplasms(carcinoid tumor of the small intestine, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of thesmall intestine, small bowl lymphoma)), and ulcers, such as pepticulcers.

[0773] Gastrointestinal disorders include dysphagia, odynophagia,inflammation of the esophagus, peptic esophagitis, gastric reflux,submucosal fibrosis and stricturingi, Mallory-Weiss lesions, leiomyomas,lipomas, epidermal cancers, adeoncarcinomas, gastric retentiondisorders, gastroenteritis, gastric atrophy, gastric/stomach cancers,polyps of the stomach, autoimmune disorders such as pernicious anemia,pyloric stenosis, gastritis (bacterial, viral, eosinophilic,stress-induced, chronic erosive, atrophic, plasma cell, andMenetrier's), and peritoneal diseases (e.g., chyloperioneum,hemoperitoneum, mesenteric cyst, mesenteric lymphadenitis, mesentericvascular occlusion, panniculitis, neoplasms, peritonitis,pneumoperitoneum, bubphrenic abscess,).

[0774] Gastrointestinal disorders also include disorders associated withthe small intestine, such as malabsorption syndromes, distension,irritable bowel syndrome, sugar intolerance, celiac disease, duodenalulcers, duodenitis, tropical sprue, Whipple's disease, intestinallymphangiectasia, Crohn's disease, appendicitis, obstructions of theileum, Meckel's diverticulum, multiple diverticula, failure of completerotation of the small and large intestine, lymphoma, and bacterial andparasitic diseases (such as Traveler's diarrhea, typhoid andparatyphoid, cholera, infection by Roundworms (Ascariasis lumbricoides),Hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale), Threadworms (Enterobiusvermicularis), Tapeworms (Taenia saginata, Echinococcus granulosus,Diphyllobothrium spp., and T solium).

[0775] Liver diseases and/or disorders include intrahepatic cholestasis(alagille syndrome, biliary liver cirrhosis), fatty liver (alcoholicfatty liver, reye syndrome), hepatic vein thrombosis, hepatolentriculardegeneration, hepatomegaly, hepatopulmonary syndrome, hepatorenalsyndrome, portal hypertension (esophageal and gastric varices), liverabscess (amebic liver abscess), liver cirrhosis (alcoholic, biliary andexperimental), alcoholic liver diseases (fatty liver, hepatitis,cirrhosis), parasitic (hepatic echinococcosis, fascioliasis, amebicliver abscess), jaundice (hemolytic, hepatocellular, and cholestatic),cholestasis, portal hypertension, liver enlargement, ascites, hepatitis(alcoholic hepatitis, animal hepatitis, chronic hepatitis (autoimmune,hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitis D, drug induced), toxic hepatitis,viral human hepatitis (hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, hepatitisD, hepatitis E), Wilson's disease, granulomatous hepatitis, secondarybiliary cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy, portal hypertension, varices,hepatic encephalopathy, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosingcholangitis, hepatocellular adenoma, hemangiomas, bile stones, liverfailure (hepatic encephalopathy, acute liver failure), and liverneoplasms (angiomyolipoma, calcified liver metastases, cystic livermetastases, epithelial tumors, fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma, focalnodular hyperplasia, hepatic adenoma, hepatobiliary cystadenoma,hepatoblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatoma, liver cancer, liverhemangioendothelioma, mesenchymal hamartoma, mesenchymal tumors ofliver, nodular regenerative hyperplasia, benign liver tumors (Hepaticcysts [Simple cysts, Polycystic liver disease, Hepatobiliarycystadenoma, Choledochal cyst], Mesenchymal tumors [Mesenchymalhamartoma, Infantile hemangioendothelioma, Hemangioma, Peliosis hepatis,Lipomas, Inflammatory pseudotumor, Miscellaneous], Epithelial tumors[Bile duct epithelium (Bile duct hamartoma, Bile duct adenoma),Hepatocyte (Adenoma, Focal nodular hyperplasia, Nodular regenerativehyperplasia)], malignant liver tumors [hepatocellular, hepatoblastoma,hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocellular, cholangiocarcinoma,cystadenocarcinoma, tumors of blood vessels, angiosarcoma, Karposi'ssarcoma, hemangioendothelioma, other tumors, embryonal sarcoma,fibrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, carcinosarcoma,teratoma, carcinoid, squamous carcinoma, primary lymphoma]), peliosishepatis, erythrohepatic porphyria, hepatic porphyria (acute intermittentporphyria, porphyria cutanea tarda), Zellweger syndrome).

[0776] Pancreatic diseases and/or disorders include acute pancreatitis,chronic pancreatitis (acute necrotizing pancreatitis, alcoholicpancreatitis), neoplasms (adenocarcinoma of the pancreas,cystadenocarcinoma, insulinoma, gastrinoma, and glucagonoma, cysticneoplasms, islet-cell tumors, pancreoblastoma), and other pancreaticdiseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis, cyst (pancreatic pseudocyst, pancreaticfistula, insufficiency)).

[0777] Gallbladder diseases include gallstones (cholelithiasis andcholedocholithiasis), postcholecystectomy syndrome, diverticulosis ofthe gallbladder, acute cholecystitis, chronic cholecystitis, bile ducttumors, and mucocele.

[0778] Diseases and/or disorders of the large intestine includeantibiotic-associated colitis, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis,acquired megacolon, abscesses, fungal and bacterial infections,anorectal disorders (e.g., fissures, hemorrhoids), colonic diseases(colitis, colonic neoplasms [colon cancer, adenomatous colon polyps(e.g., villous adenoma), colon carcinoma, colorectal cancer], colonicdiverticulitis, colonic diverticulosis, megacolon [Hirschsprung disease,toxic megacolon]; sigmoid diseases [proctocolitis, sigmoin neoplasms]),constipation, Crohn's disease, diarrhea (infantile diarrhea, dysentery),duodenal diseases (duodenal neoplasms, duodenal obstruction, duodenalulcer, duodenitis), enteritis (enterocolitis), HIV enteropathy, ilealdiseases (ileal neoplasms, ileitis), immunoproliferative smallintestinal disease, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis,Crohn's disease), intestinal atresia, parasitic diseases (anisakiasis,balantidiasis, blastocystis infections, cryptosporidiosis,dientamoebiasis, amebic dysentery, giardiasis), intestinal fistula(rectal fistula), intestinal neoplasms (cecal neoplasms, colonicneoplasms, duodenal neoplasms, ileal neoplasms, intestinal polyps,jejunal neoplasms, rectal neoplasms), intestinal obstruction (afferentloop syndrome, duodenal obstruction, impacted feces, intestinalpseudo-obstruction [cecal volvulus], intussusception), intestinalperforation, intestinal polyps (colonic polyps, gardner syndrome,peutz-jeghers syndrome), jejunal diseases (jejunal neoplasms),malabsorption syndromes (blind loop syndrome, celiac disease, lactoseintolerance, short bowl syndrome, tropical sprue, whipple's disease),mesenteric vascular occlusion, pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis,protein-losing enteropathies (intestinal lymphagiectasis), rectaldiseases (anus diseases, fecal incontinence, hemorrhoids, proctitis,rectal fistula, rectal prolapse, rectocele), peptic ulcer (duodenalulcer, peptic esophagitis, hemorrhage, perforation, stomach ulcer,Zollinger-Ellison syndrome), postgastrectomy syndromes (dumpingsyndrome), stomach diseases (e.g., achlorhydria, duodenogastric reflux(bile reflux), gastric antral vascular ectasia, gastric fistula, gastricoutlet obstruction, gastritis (atrophic or hypertrophic), gastroparesis,stomach dilatation, stomach diverticulum, stomach neoplasms (gastriccancer, gastric polyps, gastric adenocarcinoma, hyperplastic gastricpolyp), stomach rupture, stomach ulcer, stomach volvulus), tuberculosis,visceroptosis, vomiting (e.g., hematemesis, hyperemesis gravidarum,postoperative nausea and vomiting) and hemorrhagic colitis.

[0779] Further diseases and/or disorders of the gastrointestinal systeminclude biliary tract diseases, such as, gastroschisis, fistula (e.g.,biliary fistula, esophageal fistula, gastric fistula, intestinalfistula, pancreatic fistula), neoplasms (e.g., biliary tract neoplasms,esophageal neoplasms, such as adenocarcinoma of the esophagus,esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, gastrointestinal neoplasms,pancreatic neoplasms, such as adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, mucinouscystic neoplasm of the pancreas, pancreatic cystic neoplasms,pancreatoblastoma, and peritoneal neoplasms), esophageal disease (e.g.,bullous diseases, candidiasis, glycogenic acanthosis, ulceration,barrett esophagus varices, atresia, cyst, diverticulum (e.g., Zenker'sdiverticulum), fistula (e.g., tracheoesophageal fistula), motilitydisorders (e.g., CREST syndrome, deglutition disorders, achalasia,spasm, gastroesophageal reflux), neoplasms, perforation (e.g., Boerhaavesyndrome, Mallory-Weiss syndrome), stenosis, esophagitis, diaphragmatichernia (e.g., hiatal hernia); gastrointestinal diseases, such as,gastroenteritis (e.g., cholera morbus, norwalk virus infection),hemorrhage (e.g., hematemesis, melena, peptic ulcer hemorrhage), stomachneoplasms (gastric cancer, gastric polyps, gastric adenocarcinoma,stomach cancer)), hernia (e.g., congenital diaphragmatic hernia, femoralhernia, inguinal hernia, obturator hernia, umbilical hernia, ventralhernia), and intestinal diseases (e.g., cecal diseases (appendicitis,cecal neoplasms)).

[0780] Chemotaxis

[0781] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention may have chemotaxis activity. Achemotaxic molecule attracts or mobilizes cells (e.g., monocytes,fibroblasts, neutrophils, T-cells, mast cells, eosinophils, epithelialand/or endothelial cells) to a particular site in the body, such asinflammation, infection, or site of hyperproliferation. The mobilizedcells can then fight off and/or heal the particular trauma orabnormality.

[0782] Polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention may increase chemotaxic activity ofparticular cells. These chemotactic molecules can then be used to treatinflammation, infection, hyperproliferative disorders, or any immunesystem disorder by increasing the number of cells targeted to aparticular location in the body. For example, chemotaxic molecules canbe used to treat wounds and other trauma to tissues by attracting immunecells to the injured location. Chemotactic molecules of the presentinvention can also attract fibroblasts, which can be used to treatwounds.

[0783] It is also contemplated that polynucleotides or polypeptides, aswell as agonists or antagonists of the present invention may inhibitchemotactic activity. These molecules could also be used to treatdisorders. Thus, polynucleotides or polypeptides, as well as agonists orantagonists of the present invention could be used as an inhibitor ofchemotaxis.

[0784] Binding Activity

[0785] A polypeptide of the present invention may be used to screen formolecules that bind to the polypeptide or for molecules to which thepolypeptide binds. The binding of the polypeptide and the molecule mayactivate (agonist), increase, inhibit (antagonist), or decrease activityof the polypeptide or the molecule bound. Examples of such moleculesinclude antibodies, oligonucleotides, proteins (e.g., receptors), orsmall molecules.

[0786] Preferably, the molecule is closely related to the natural ligandof the polypeptide, e.g., a fragment of the ligand, or a naturalsubstrate, a ligand, a structural or functional mimetic. (See, Coliganet al., Current Protocols in Immunology 1(2):Chapter 5 (1991)).Similarly, the molecule can be closely related to the natural receptorto which the polypeptide binds, or at least, a fragment of the receptorcapable of being bound by the polypeptide (e.g., active site). In eithercase, the molecule can be rationally designed using known techniques.

[0787] Preferably, the screening for these molecules involves producingappropriate cells which express the polypeptide. Preferred cells includecells from mammals, yeast, Drosophila, or E. Coli. Cells expressing thepolypeptide (or cell membrane containing the expressed polypeptide) arethen preferably contacted with a test compound potentially containingthe molecule to observe binding, stimulation, or inhibition of activityof either the polypeptide or the molecule.

[0788] The assay may simply test binding of a candidate compound to thepolypeptide, wherein binding is detected by a label, or in an assayinvolving competition with a labeled competitor. Further, the assay maytest whether the candidate compound results in a signal generated bybinding to the polypeptide.

[0789] Alternatively, the assay can be carried out using cell-freepreparations, polypeptide/molecule affixed to a solid support, chemicallibraries, or natural product mixtures. The assay may also simplycomprise the steps of mixing a candidate compound with a solutioncontaining a polypeptide, measuring polypeptide/molecule activity orbinding, and comparing the polypeptide/molecule activity or binding to astandard.

[0790] Preferably, an ELISA assay can measure polypeptide level oractivity in a sample (e.g., biological sample) using a monoclonal orpolyclonal antibody. The antibody can measure polypeptide level oractivity by either binding, directly or indirectly, to the polypeptideor by competing with the polypeptide for a substrate.

[0791] Additionally, the receptor to which the polypeptide of thepresent invention binds can be identified by numerous methods known tothose of skill in the art, for example, ligand panning and FACS sorting(Coligan, et al., Current Protocols in Immun., 1(2), Chapter 5, (1991)).For example, expression cloning is employed wherein polyadenylated RNAis prepared from a cell responsive to the polypeptides, for example,NIH3T3 cells which are known to contain multiple receptors for the FGFfamily proteins, and SC-3 cells, and a cDNA library created from thisRNA is divided into pools and used to transfect COS cells or other cellsthat are not responsive to the polypeptides. Transfected cells which aregrown on glass slides are exposed to the polypeptide of the presentinvention, after they have been labeled. The polypeptides can be labeledby a variety of means including iodination or inclusion of a recognitionsite for a site-specific protein kinase.

[0792] Following fixation and incubation, the slides are subjected toauto-radiographic analysis. Positive pools are identified and sub-poolsare prepared and re-transfected using an iterative sub-pooling andre-screening process, eventually yielding a single clones that encodesthe putative receptor.

[0793] As an alternative approach for receptor identification, thelabeled polypeptides can be photoaffinity linked with cell membrane orextract preparations that express the receptor molecule. Cross-linkedmaterial is resolved by PAGE analysis and exposed to X-ray film. Thelabeled complex containing the receptors of the polypeptides can beexcised, resolved into peptide fragments, and subjected to proteinmicrosequencing. The amino acid sequence obtained from microsequencingwould be used to design a set of degenerate oligonucleotide probes toscreen a cDNA library to identify the genes encoding the putativereceptors.

[0794] Moreover, the techniques of gene-shuffling, motif-shuffling,exon-shuffling, and/or codon-shuffling (collectively referred to as “DNAshuffling”) may be employed to modulate the activities of thepolypeptide of the present invention thereby effectively generatingagonists and antagonists of the polypeptide of the present invention.See generally, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,793, 5,811,238, 5,830,721,5,834,252, and 5,837,458, and Patten, P. A., et al., Curr. OpinionBiotechnol. 8:724-33 (1997); Harayama, S. Trends Biotechnol. 16(2):76-82(1998); Hansson, L. O., et al., J. Mol. Biol. 287:265-76 (1999); andLorenzo, M. M. and Blasco, R. Biotechniques 24(2):308-13 (1998); each ofthese patents and publications are hereby incorporated by reference). Inone embodiment, alteration of polynucleotides and correspondingpolypeptides may be achieved by DNA shuffling. DNA shuffling involvesthe assembly of two or more DNA segments into a desired molecule byhomologous, or site-specific, recombination. In another embodiment,polynucleotides and corresponding polypeptides may be altered by beingsubjected to random mutagenesis by error-prone PCR, random nucleotideinsertion or other methods prior to recombination. In anotherembodiment, one or more components, motifs, sections, parts, domains,fragments, etc., of the polypeptide of the present invention may berecombined with one or more components, motifs, sections, parts,domains, fragments, etc. of one or more heterologous molecules. Inpreferred embodiments, the heterologous molecules are family members. Infurther preferred embodiments, the heterologous molecule is a growthfactor such as, for example, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF),insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), transforming growth factor(TGF)-alpha, epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor(FGF), TGF-beta, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, BMP-4, BMP-5,BMP-6, BMP-7, activins A and B, decapentaplegic(dpp), 60A, OP-2,dorsalin, growth differentiation factors (GDFs), nodal, MIS,inhibin-alpha, TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, TGF-beta3, TGF-beta5, andglial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF).

[0795] Other preferred fragments are biologically active fragments ofthe polypeptide of the present invention. Biologically active fragmentsare those exhibiting activity similar, but not necessarily identical, toan activity of the polypeptide of the present invention. The biologicalactivity of the fragments may include an improved desired activity, or adecreased undesirable activity.

[0796] Additionally, this invention provides a method of screeningcompounds to identify those which modulate the action of the polypeptideof the present invention. An example of such an assay comprisescombining a mammalian fibroblast cell, a the polypeptide of the presentinvention, the compound to be screened and ³[H] thymidine under cellculture conditions where the fibroblast cell would normally proliferate.A control assay may be performed in the absence of the compound to bescreened and compared to the amount of fibroblast proliferation in thepresence of the compound to determine if the compound stimulatesproliferation by determining the uptake of ³[H] thymidine in each case.The amount of fibroblast cell proliferation is measured by liquidscintillation chromatography which measures the incorporation of ³[H]thymidine. Both agonist and antagonist compounds may be identified bythis procedure.

[0797] In another method, a mammalian cell or membrane preparationexpressing a receptor for a polypeptide of the present invention isincubated with a labeled polypeptide of the present invention in thepresence of the compound. The ability of the compound to enhance orblock this interaction could then be measured. Alternatively, theresponse of a known second messenger system following interaction of acompound to be screened and the receptor is measured and the ability ofthe compound to bind to the receptor and elicit a second messengerresponse is measured to determine if the compound is a potential agonistor antagonist. Such second messenger systems include but are not limitedto, cAMP guanylate cyclase, ion channels or phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

[0798] All of these above assays can be used as diagnostic or prognosticmarkers. The molecules discovered using these assays can be used totreat disease or to bring about a particular result in a patient (e.g.,blood vessel growth) by activating or inhibiting thepolypeptide/molecule. Moreover, the assays can discover agents which mayinhibit or enhance the production of the polypeptides of the inventionfrom suitably manipulated cells or tissues.

[0799] Therefore, the invention includes a method of identifyingcompounds which bind to a polypeptide of the invention comprising thesteps of: (a) incubating a candidate binding compound with a polypeptideof the present invention; and (b) determining if binding has occurred.Moreover, the invention includes a method of identifyingagonists/antagonists comprising the steps of: (a) incubating a candidatecompound with a polypeptide of the present invention, (b) assaying abiological activity, and (b) determining if a biological activity of thepolypeptide has been altered.

[0800] Targeted Delivery

[0801] In another embodiment, the invention provides a method ofdelivering compositions to targeted cells expressing a receptor for apolypeptide of the invention, or cells expressing a cell bound form of apolypeptide of the invention.

[0802] As discussed herein, polypeptides or antibodies of the inventionmay be associated with heterologous polypeptides, heterologous nucleicacids, toxins, or prodrugs via hydrophobic, hydrophilic, ionic and/orcovalent interactions. In one embodiment, the invention provides amethod for the specific delivery of compositions of the invention tocells by administering polypeptides of the invention (includingantibodies) that are associated with heterologous polypeptides ornucleic acids. In one example, the invention provides a method fordelivering a therapeutic protein into the targeted cell. In anotherexample, the invention provides a method for delivering a singlestranded nucleic acid (e.g., antisense or ribozymes)-or double strandednucleic acid (e.g., DNA that can integrate into the cell's genome orreplicate episomally and that can be transcribed) into the targetedcell.

[0803] In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for thespecific destruction of cells (e.g., the destruction of tumor cells) byadministering polypeptides of the invention (e.g., polypeptides of theinvention or antibodies of the invention) in association with toxins orcytotoxic prodrugs.

[0804] By “toxin” is meant compounds that bind and activate endogenouscytotoxic effector systems, radioisotopes, holotoxins, modified toxins,catalytic subunits of toxins, or any molecules or enzymes not normallypresent in or on the surface of a cell that under defined conditionscause the cell's death. Toxins that may be used according to the methodsof the invention include, but are not limited to, radioisotopes known inthe art, compounds such as, for example, antibodies (or complementfixing containing portions thereof) that bind an inherent or inducedendogenous cytotoxic effector system, thymidine kinase, endonuclease,RNAse, alpha toxin, ricin, abrin, Pseudomonas exotoxin A, diphtheriatoxin, saporin, momordin, gelonin, pokeweed antiviral protein,alpha-sarcin and cholera toxin. By “cytotoxic prodrug” is meant anon-toxic compound that is converted by an enzyme, normally present inthe cell, into a cytotoxic compound. Cytotoxic prodrugs that may be usedaccording to the methods of the invention include, but are not limitedto, glutamyl derivatives of benzoic acid mustard alkylating agent,phosphate derivatives of etoposide or mitomycin C, cytosine arabinoside,daunorubisin, and phenoxyacetamide derivatives of doxorubicin.

[0805] Drug Screening

[0806] Further contemplated is the use of the polypeptides of thepresent invention, or the polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides,to screen for molecules which modify the activities of the polypeptidesof the present invention. Such a method would include contacting thepolypeptide of the present invention with a selected compound(s)suspected of having antagonist or agonist activity, and assaying theactivity of these polypeptides following binding.

[0807] This invention is particularly useful for screening therapeuticcompounds by using the polypeptides of the present invention, or bindingfragments thereof, in any of a variety of drug screening techniques. Thepolypeptide or fragment employed in such a test may be affixed to asolid support, expressed on a cell surface, free in solution, or locatedintracellularly. One method of drug screening utilizes eukaryotic orprokaryotic host cells which are stably transformed with recombinantnucleic acids expressing the polypeptide or fragment. Drugs are screenedagainst such transformed cells in competitive binding assays. One maymeasure, for example, the formulation of complexes between the agentbeing tested and a polypeptide of the present invention.

[0808] Thus, the present invention provides methods of screening fordrugs or any other agents which affect activities mediated by thepolypeptides of the present invention. These methods comprise contactingsuch an agent with a polypeptide of the present invention or a fragmentthereof and assaying for the presence of a complex between the agent andthe polypeptide or a fragment thereof, by methods well known in the art.In such a competitive binding assay, the agents to screen are typicallylabeled. Following incubation, free agent is separated from that presentin bound form, and the amount of free or uncomplexed label is a measureof the ability of a particular agent to bind to the polypeptides of thepresent invention.

[0809] Another technique for drug screening provides high throughputscreening for compounds having suitable binding affinity to thepolypeptides of the present invention, and is described in great detailin European Patent Application 84/03564, published on Sep. 13, 1984,which is incorporated herein by reference herein. Briefly stated, largenumbers of different small peptide test compounds are synthesized on asolid substrate, such as plastic pins or some other surface. The peptidetest compounds are reacted with polypeptides of the present inventionand washed. Bound polypeptides are then detected by methods well knownin the art. Purified polypeptides are coated directly onto plates foruse in the aforementioned drug screening techniques. In addition,non-neutralizing antibodies may be used to capture the peptide andimmobilize it on the solid support.

[0810] This invention also contemplates the use of competitive drugscreening assays in which neutralizing antibodies capable of bindingpolypeptides of the present invention specifically compete with a testcompound for binding to the polypeptides or fragments thereof. In thismanner, the antibodies are used to detect the presence of any peptidewhich shares one or more antigenic epitopes with a polypeptide of theinvention.

[0811] Polypeptides of the Invention Binding Peptides and OtherMolecules

[0812] The invention also encompasses screening methods for identifyingpolypeptides and nonpolypeptides that bind polypeptides of theinvention, and the polypeptide of the invention binding moleculesidentified thereby. These binding molecules are useful, for example, asagonists and antagonists of the polypeptides of the invention. Suchagonists and antagonists can be used, in accordance with the invention,in the therapeutic embodiments described in detail, below.

[0813] This method comprises the steps of: contacting a polypeptide ofthe invention with a plurality of molecules; and identifying a moleculethat binds the polypeptide of the invention.

[0814] The step of contacting the polypeptide of the invention with theplurality of molecules may be effected in a number of ways. For example,one may contemplate immobilizing the polypeptide of the invention on asolid support and bringing a solution of the plurality of molecules incontact with the immobilized polypeptide of the invention. Such aprocedure would be akin to an affinity chromatographic process, with theaffinity matrix being comprised of the immobilized polypeptide of theinvention. The molecules having a selective affinity for the polypeptideof the invention can then be purified by affinity selection. The natureof the solid support, process for attachment of the polypeptide of theinvention to the solid support, solvent, and conditions of the affinityisolation or selection are largely conventional and well known to thoseof ordinary skill in the art.

[0815] Alternatively, one may also separate a plurality of polypeptidesinto substantially separate fractions comprising a subset of orindividual polypeptides. For instance, one can separate the plurality ofpolypeptides by gel electrophoresis, column chromatography, or likemethod known to those of ordinary skill for the separation ofpolypeptides. The individual polypeptides can also be produced by atransformed host cell in such a way as to be expressed on or about itsouter surface (e.g., a recombinant phage). Individual isolates can thenbe “probed” by the polypeptide of the invention, optionally in thepresence of an inducer should one be required for expression, todetermine if any selective affinity interaction takes place between thepolypeptide of the invention and the individual clone. Prior tocontacting the polypeptide of the invention with each fractioncomprising individual polypeptides, the polypeptides could first betransferred to a solid support for additional convenience. Such a solidsupport may simply be a piece of filter membrane, such as one made ofnitrocellulose or nylon. In this manner, positive clones could beidentified from a collection of transformed host cells of an expressionlibrary, which harbor a DNA construct encoding a polypeptide having aselective affinity for a polypeptide of the invention. Furthermore, theamino acid sequence of the polypeptide having a selective affinity forthe polypeptide of the invention can be determined directly byconventional means or the coding sequence of the DNA encoding thepolypeptide can frequently be determined more conveniently. The primarysequence can then be deduced from the corresponding DNA sequence. If theamino acid sequence is to be determined from the polypeptide itself, onemay use microsequencing techniques. The sequencing technique may includemass spectroscopy.

[0816] In certain situations, it may be desirable to wash away anyunbound polypeptide of the invention, or alterntatively, unboundpolypeptides, from a mixture of the polypeptide of the invention and theplurality of polypeptides prior to attempting to determine or to detectthe presence of a selective affinity interaction. Such a wash step maybe particularly desirable when the polypeptide of the invention or theplurality of polypeptides is bound to a solid support.

[0817] The plurality of molecules provided according to this method maybe provided by way of diversity libraries, such as random orcombinatorial peptide or nonpeptide libraries which can be screened formolecules that specifically bind to a polypeptide of the invention. Manylibraries are known in the art that can be used, e.g., chemicallysynthesized libraries, recombinant (e.g., phage display libraries), andin vitro translation-based libraries. Examples of chemically synthesizedlibraries are described in Fodor et al., 1991, Science 251:767-773;Houghten et al., 1991, Nature 354:84-86; Lam et al., 1991, Nature354:82-84; Medynski, 1994, Bio/Technology 12:709-710; Gallop et al.,1994, J. Medicinal Chemistry 37(9):1233-1251; Ohlmeyer et al., 1993,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:10922-10926; Erb et al., 1994, Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 91:11422-11426; Houghten et al., 1992, Biotechniques13:412; Jayawickreme et al., 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA91:1614-1618; Salmon et al., 1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA90:11708-11712; PCT Publication No. WO 93/20242; and Brenner and Lerner,1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:5381-5383.

[0818] Examples of phage display libraries are described in Scott andSmith, 1990, Science 249:386-390; Devlin et al., 1990, Science,249:404-406; Christian, R. B., et al., 1992, J. Mol. Biol. 227:711-718);Lenstra, 1992, J. Immunol. Meth. 152:149-157; Kay et al., 1993, Gene128:59-65; and PCT Publication No. WO 94/18318 dated Aug. 18, 1994.

[0819] In vitro translation-based libraries include but are not limitedto those described in PCT Publication No. WO 91/05058 dated Apr. 18,1991; and Mattheakis et al., 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA91:9022-9026.

[0820] By way of examples of nonpeptide libraries, a benzodiazepinelibrary (see e.g., Bunin et al., 1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA91:4708-4712) can be adapted for use. Peptoid libraries (Simon et al.,1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:9367-9371) can also be used. Anotherexample of a library that can be used, in which the amidefunctionalities in peptides have been permethylated to generate achemically transformed combinatorial library, is described by Ostresh etal. (1994, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:11138-11142).

[0821] The variety of non-peptide libraries that are useful in thepresent invention is great. For example, Ecker and Crooke, 1995,Bio/Technology 13:351-360 list benzodiazepines, hydantoins,piperazinediones, biphenyls, sugar analogs, beta-mercaptoketones,arylacetic acids, acylpiperidines, benzopyrans, cubanes, xanthines,aminimides, and oxazolones as among the chemical species that form thebasis of various libraries.

[0822] Non-peptide libraries can be classified broadly into two types:decorated monomers and oligomers. Decorated monomer libraries employ arelatively simple scaffold structure upon which a variety functionalgroups is added. Often the scaffold will be a molecule with a knownuseful pharmacological activity. For example, the scaffold might be thebenzodiazepine structure.

[0823] Non-peptide oligomer libraries utilize a large number of monomersthat are assembled together in ways that create new shapes that dependon the order of the monomers. Among the monomer units that have beenused are carbamates, pyrrolinones, and morpholinos. Peptoids,peptide-like oligomers in which the side chain is attached to the alphaamino group rather than the alpha carbon, form the basis of anotherversion of non-peptide oligomer libraries. The first non-peptideoligomer libraries utilized a single type of monomer and thus containeda repeating backbone. Recent libraries have utilized more than onemonomer, giving the libraries added flexibility.

[0824] Screening the libraries can be accomplished by any of a varietyof commonly known methods. See, e.g., the following references, whichdisclose screening of peptide libraries: Parmley and Smith, 1989, Adv.Exp. Med. Biol. 251:215-218; Scott and Smith, 1990, Science 249:386-390;Fowlkes et al., 1992; BioTechniques 13:422-427; Oldenburg et al., 1992,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:5393-5397; Yu et al., 1994, Cell76:933-945; Staudt et al., 1988, Science 241:577-580; Bock et al., 1992,Nature 355:564-566; Tuerk et al., 1992, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA89:6988-6992; Ellington et al., 1992, Nature 355:850-852; U.S. Pat. No.5,096,815, U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,198,346, all toLadner et al.; Rebar and Pabo, 1993, Science 263:671-673; and CTPublication No. WO 94/18318.

[0825] In a specific embodiment, screening to identify a molecule thatbinds a polypeptide of the invention can be carried out by contactingthe library members with a polypeptide of the invention immobilized on asolid phase and harvesting those library members that bind to thepolypeptide of the invention. Examples of such screening methods, termed“panning” techniques are described by way of example in Parmley andSmith, 1988, Gene 73:305-318; Fowlkes et al., 1992, BioTechniques13:422-427; PCT Publication No. WO 94/18318; and in references citedherein.

[0826] In another embodiment, the two-hybrid system for selectinginteracting proteins in yeast (Fields and Song, 1989, Nature340:245-246; Chien et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA88:9578-9582) can be used to identify molecules that specifically bindto a polypeptide of the invention.

[0827] Where the polypeptide of the invention binding molecule is apolypeptide, the polypeptide can be conveniently selected from anypeptide library, including random peptide libraries, combinatorialpeptide libraries, or biased peptide libraries. The term “biased” isused herein to mean that the method of generating the library ismanipulated so as to restrict one or more parameters that govern thediversity of the resulting collection of molecules, in this casepeptides.

[0828] Thus, a truly random peptide library would generate a collectionof peptides in which the probability of finding a particular amino acidat a given position of the peptide is the same for all 20 amino acids. Abias can be introduced into the library, however, by specifying, forexample, that a lysine occur every fifth amino acid or that positions 4,8, and 9 of a decapeptide library be fixed to include only arginine.Clearly, many types of biases can be contemplated, and the presentinvention is not restricted to any particular bias. Furthermore, thepresent invention contemplates specific types of peptide libraries, suchas phage displayed peptide libraries and those that utilize a DNAconstruct comprising a lambda phage vector with a DNA insert.

[0829] As mentioned above, in the case of a polypeptide of the inventionbinding molecule that is a polypeptide, the polypeptide may have about 6to less than about 60 amino acid residues, preferably about 6 to about10 amino acid residues, and most preferably, about 6 to about 22 aminoacids. In another embodiment, a polypeptide of the invention bindingpolypeptide has in the range of 15-100 amino acids, or 20-50 aminoacids.

[0830] The selected polypeptide of the invention binding polypeptide canbe obtained by chemical synthesis or recombinant expression.

[0831] Antisense And Ribozyme (Antagonists)

[0832] In specific embodiments, antagonists according to the presentinvention are nucleic acids corresponding to the sequences contained inSEQ ID NO:X, or the complementary strand thereof, and/or to nucleotidesequences contained a deposited clone. In one embodiment, antisensesequence is generated internally by the organism, in another embodiment,the antisense sequence is separately administered (see, for example,O'Connor, Neurochem., 56:560 (1991). Oligodeoxynucleotides as AnitsenseInhibitors of Gene Expression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988).Antisense technology can be used to control gene expression throughantisense DNA or RNA, or through triple-helix formation. Antisensetechniques are discussed for example, in Okano, Neurochem., 56:560(1991); Oligodeoxynucleotides as Antisense Inhibitors of GeneExpression, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fla. (1988). Triple helix formationis discussed in, for instance, Lee et al., Nucleic Acids Research,6:3073 (1979); Cooney et al., Science, 241:456 (1988); and Dervan etal., Science, 251:1300 (1991). The methods are based on binding of apolynucleotide to a complementary DNA or RNA.

[0833] For example, the use of c-myc and c-myb antisense RNA constructsto inhibit the growth of the non-lymphocytic leukemia cell line HL-60and other cell lines was previously described. (Wickstrom et al. (1988);Anfossi et al. (1989)). These experiments were performed in vitro byincubating cells with the oligoribonucleotide. A similar procedure forin vivo use is described in WO 91/15580. Briefly, a pair ofoligonucleotides for a given antisense RNA is produced as follows: Asequence complimentary to the first 15 bases of the open reading frameis flanked by an EcOR1 site on the 5 end and a HindIII site on the 3end. Next, the pair of oligonucleotides is heated at 90° C. for oneminute and then annealed in 2× ligation buffer (20 mM TRIS HCl pH 7.5,10 mM MgCl2, 10 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) and 0.2 mM ATP) and then ligatedto the EcOR1/Hind III site of the retroviral vector PMV7 (WO 91/15580).

[0834] For example, the 5′ coding portion of a polynucleotide thatencodes the mature polypeptide of the present invention may be used todesign an antisense RNA oligonucleotide of from about 10 to 40 basepairs in length. A DNA oligonucleotide is designed to be complementaryto a region of the gene involved in transcription thereby preventingtranscription and the production of the receptor. The antisense RNAoligonucleotide hybridizes to the mRNA in vivo and blocks translation ofthe mRNA molecule into receptor polypeptide.

[0835] In one embodiment, the antisense nucleic acid of the invention isproduced intracellularly by transcription from an exogenous sequence.For example, a vector or a portion thereof, is transcribed, producing anantisense nucleic acid (RNA) of the invention. Such a vector wouldcontain a sequence encoding the antisense nucleic acid of the invention.Such a vector can remain episomal or become chromosomally integrated, aslong as it can be transcribed to produce the desired antisense RNA. Suchvectors can be constructed by recombinant DNA technology methodsstandard in the art. Vectors can be plasmid, viral, or others known inthe art, used for replication and expression in vertebrate cells.Expression of the sequence encoding a polypeptide of the invention, orfragments thereof, can be by any promoter known in the art to act invertebrate, preferably human cells. Such promoters can be inducible orconstitutive. Such promoters include, but are not limited to, the SV40early promoter region (Bemoist and Chambon, Nature, 29:304-310 (1981),the promoter contained in the 3, long terminal repeat of Rous sarcomavirus (Yamamoto et al., Cell, 22:787-797 (1980), the herpes thymidinepromoter (Wagner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 78:1441-1445(1981), the regulatory sequences of the metallothionein gene (Brinsteret al., Nature, 296:39-42 (1982)), etc.

[0836] The antisense nucleic acids of the invention comprise a sequencecomplementary to at least a portion of an RNA transcript of a gene ofinterest. However, absolute complementarity, although preferred, is notrequired. A sequence “complementary to at least a portion of an RNA,”referred to herein, means a sequence having sufficient complementarityto be able to hybridize with the RNA, forming a stable duplex; in thecase of double stranded antisense nucleic acids of the invention, asingle strand of the duplex DNA may thus be tested, or triplex formationmay be assayed. The ability to hybridize will depend on both the degreeof complementarity and the length of the antisense nucleic acidGenerally, the larger the hybridizing nucleic acid, the more basemismatches with a RNA sequence of the invention it may contain and stillform a stable duplex (or triplex as the case may be). One skilled in theart can ascertain a tolerable degree of mismatch by use of standardprocedures to determine the melting point of the hybridized complex.

[0837] Oligonucleotides that are complementary to the 5′ end of themessage, e.g., the 5′ untranslated sequence up to and including the AUGinitiation codon, should work most efficiently at inhibitingtranslation. However, sequences complementary to the 3′ untranslatedsequences of mRNAs have been shown to be effective at inhibitingtranslation of mRNAs as well. See generally, Wagner, R., Nature,372:333-335 (1994). Thus, oligonucleotides complementary to either the5′- or 3′-non-translated, non-coding regions of a polynucleotidesequence of the invention could be used in an antisense approach toinhibit translation of endogenous mRNA. Oligonucleotides complementaryto the 5′ untranslated region of the mRNA should include the complementof the AUG start codon. Antisense oligonucleotides complementary to mRNAcoding regions are less efficient inhibitors of translation but could beused in accordance with the invention. Whether designed to hybridize tothe 5′-, 3′- or coding region of mRNA, antisense nucleic acids should beat least six nucleotides in length, and are preferably oligonucleotidesranging from 6 to about 50 nucleotides in length. In specific aspectsthe oligonucleotide is at least 10 nucleotides, at least 17 nucleotides,at least 25 nucleotides or at least 50 nucleotides.

[0838] The polynucleotides of the invention can be DNA or RNA orchimeric mixtures or derivatives or modified versions thereof,single-stranded or double-stranded. The oligonucleotide can be modifiedat the base moiety, sugar moiety, or phosphate backbone, for example, toimprove stability of the molecule, hybridization, etc. Theoligonucleotide may include other appended groups such as peptides(e.g., for targeting host cell receptors in vivo), or agentsfacilitating transport across the cell membrane (see, e.g., Letsinger etal., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86:6553-6556 (1989); Lemaitre et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 84:648-652 (1987); PCT Publication NO:WO88/09810, published Dec. 15, 1988) or the blood-brain barrier (see,e.g., PCT Publication NO: WO89/10134, published Apr. 25, 1988),hybridization-triggered cleavage agents. (See, e.g., Krol et al.,BioTechniques, 6:958-976 (1988)) or intercalating agents. (See, e.g.,Zon, Pharm. Res., 5:539-549 (1988)). To this end, the oligonucleotidemay be conjugated to another molecule, e.g., a peptide, hybridizationtriggered cross-linking agent, transport agent, hybridization-triggeredcleavage agent, etc.

[0839] The antisense oligonucleotide may comprise at least one modifiedbase moiety which is selected from the group including, but not limitedto, 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, 5-iodouracil,hypoxanthine, xantine, 4-acetylcytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxylmethyl)uracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine,5-carboxymethylaminomethyluracil, dihydrouracil,beta-D-galactosylqueosine, inosine, N6-isopentenyladenine, 1-methylguanine, 1-methylinosine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2-methyladenine,2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N6-adenine,7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyluracil,5-methoxyaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, beta-D-mannosylqueosine,5′-methoxycarboxymethyluracil, 5-methoxyuracil,2-methylthio-N-6-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v),wybutoxosine, pseudouracil, queosine, 2-thiocytosine,5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, 5-methyluracil,uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid (v),5-methyl-2-thiouracil, 3-(3-amino-3-N-2-carboxypropyl) uracil, (acp3)w,and 2,6-diaminopurine.

[0840] The antisense oligonucleotide may also comprise at least onemodified sugar moiety selected from the group including, but not limitedto, arabinose, 2-fluoroarabinose, xylulose, and hexose.

[0841] In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotidecomprises at least one modified phosphate backbone selected from thegroup including, but not limited to, a phosphorothioate, aphosphorodithioate, a phosphoramidothioate, a phosphoramidate, aphosphordiamidate, a methylphosphonate, an alkyl phosphotriester, and aformacetal or analog thereof.

[0842] In yet another embodiment, the antisense oligonucleotide is ana-anomeric oligonucleotide. An a-anomeric oligonucleotide forms specificdouble-stranded hybrids with complementary RNA in which, contrary to theusual b-units, the strands run parallel to each other (Gautier et al.,Nucl. Acids Res., 15:6625-6641 (1987)). The oligonucleotide is a2-0-methylribonucleotide (Inoue et al., Nucl. Acids Res., 15:6131-6148(1987)), or a chimeric RNA-DNA analogue (Inoue et al., FEBS Lett.215:327-330 (1987)).

[0843] Polynucleotides of the invention may be synthesized by standardmethods known in the art, e.g. by use of an automated DNA synthesizer(such as are commercially available from Biosearch, Applied Biosystems,etc.). As examples, phosphorothioate oligonucleotides may be synthesizedby the method of Stein et al. (Nucl. Acids Res., 16:3209 (1988)),methylphosphonate oligonucleotides can be prepared by use of controlledpore glass polymer supports (Sarin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.U.S.A., 85:7448-7451 (1988)), etc.

[0844] While antisense nucleotides complementary to the coding regionsequence of the invention could be used, those complementary to thetranscribed untranslated region are most preferred.

[0845] Potential antagonists according to the invention also includecatalytic RNA, or a ribozyme (See, e.g., PCT International PublicationWO 90/11364, published Oct. 4, 1990; Sarver et al, Science,247:1222-1225 (1990). While ribozymes that cleave mRNA at site specificrecognition sequences can be used to destroy mRNAs corresponding to thepolynucleotides of the invention, the use of hammerhead ribozymes ispreferred. Hammerhead ribozymes cleave mRNAs at locations dictated byflanking regions that form complementary base pairs with the targetmRNA. The sole requirement is that the target mRNA have the followingsequence of two bases: 5′-UG-3. The construction and production ofhammerhead ribozymes is well known in the art and is described morefully in Haseloff and Gerlach, Nature, 334:585-591 (1988). There arenumerous potential hammerhead ribozyme cleavage sites within eachnucleotide sequence disclosed in the sequence listing. Preferably, theribozyme is engineered so that the cleavage recognition site is locatednear the 5′ end of the mRNA corresponding to the polynucleotides of theinvention; i.e., to increase efficiency and minimize the intracellularaccumulation of non-functional mRNA transcripts.

[0846] As in the antisense approach, the ribozymes of the invention canbe composed of modified oligonucleotides (e.g. for improved stability,targeting, etc.) and should be delivered to cells which express thepolynucleotides of the invention in vivo. DNA constructs encoding theribozyme may be introduced into the cell in the same manner as describedabove for the introduction of antisense encoding DNA. A preferred methodof delivery involves using a DNA construct “encoding” the ribozyme underthe control of a strong constitutive promoter, such as, for example, polIII or pol II promoter, so that transfected cells will producesufficient quantities of the ribozyme to destroy endogenous messages andinhibit translation. Since ribozymes unlike antisense molecules, arecatalytic, a lower intracellular concentration is required forefficiency.

[0847] Antagonist/agonist compounds may be employed to inhibit the cellgrowth and proliferation effects of the polypeptides of the presentinvention on neoplastic cells and tissues, i.e. stimulation ofangiogenesis of tumors, and, therefore, retard or prevent abnormalcellular growth and proliferation, for example, in tumor formation orgrowth.

[0848] The antagonist/agonist may also be employed to preventhyper-vascular diseases, and prevent the proliferation of epitheliallens cells after extracapsular cataract surgery. Prevention of themitogenic activity of the polypeptides of the present invention may alsobe desirous in cases such as restenosis after balloon angioplasty.

[0849] The antagonist/agonist may also be employed to prevent the growthof scar tissue during wound healing.

[0850] The antagonist/agonist may also be employed to treat, prevent,and/or diagnose the diseases described herein.

[0851] Thus, the invention provides a method of treating or preventingdiseases, disorders, and/or conditions, including but not limited to thediseases, disorders, and/or conditions listed throughout thisapplication, associated with overexpression of a polynucleotide of thepresent invention by administering to a patient (a) an antisensemolecule directed to the polynucleotide of the present invention, and/or(b) a ribozyme directed to the polynucleotide of the present invention.

[0852] Other Activities

[0853] The polypeptide of the present invention, as a result of theability to stimulate vascular endothelial cell growth, may be employedin treatment for stimulating re-vascularization of ischemic tissues dueto various disease conditions such as thrombosis, arteriosclerosis, andother cardiovascular conditions. These polypeptide may also be employedto stimulate angiogenesis and limb regeneration, as discussed above.

[0854] The polypeptide may also be employed for treating wounds due toinjuries, burns, post-operative tissue repair, and ulcers since they aremitogenic to various cells of different origins, such as fibroblastcells and skeletal muscle cells, and therefore, facilitate the repair orreplacement of damaged or diseased tissue.

[0855] The polypeptide of the present invention may also be employedstimulate neuronal growth and to treat, prevent, and/or diagnoseneuronal damage which occurs in certain neuronal disorders orneuro-degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson'sdisease, and AIDS-related complex. The polypeptide of the invention mayhave the ability to stimulate chondrocyte growth, therefore, they may beemployed to enhance bone and periodontal regeneration and aid in tissuetransplants or bone grafts.

[0856] The polypeptide of the present invention may be also be employedto prevent skin aging due to sunburn by stimulating keratinocyte growth.

[0857] The polypeptide of the invention may also be employed forpreventing hair loss, since FGF family members activate hair-formingcells and promotes melanocyte growth. Along the same lines, thepolypeptides of the present invention may be employed to stimulategrowth and differentiation of hematopoietic cells and bone marrow cellswhen used in combination with other cytokines.

[0858] The polypeptide of the invention may also be employed to maintainorgans before transplantation or for supporting cell culture of primarytissues.

[0859] The polypeptide of the present invention may also be employed forinducing tissue of mesodermal origin to differentiate in early embryos.

[0860] The polypeptide or polynucleotides and/or agonist or antagonistsof the present invention may also increase or decrease thedifferentiation or proliferation of embryonic stem cells, besides, asdiscussed above, hematopoietic lineage.

[0861] The polypeptide or polynucleotides and/or agonist or antagonistsof the present invention may also be used to modulate mammaliancharacteristics, such as body height, weight, hair color, eye color,skin, percentage of adipose tissue, pigmentation, size, and shape (e.g.,cosmetic surgery). Similarly, polypeptides or polynucleotides and/oragonist or antagonists of the present invention may be used to modulatemammalian metabolism affecting catabolism, anabolism, processing,utilization, and storage of energy.

[0862] Polypeptide or polynucleotides and/or agonist or antagonists ofthe present invention may be used to change a mammal's mental state orphysical state by influencing biorhythms, caricadic rhythms, depression(including depressive diseases, disorders, and/or conditions), tendencyfor violence, tolerance for pain, reproductive capabilities (preferablyby Activin or Inhibin-like activity), hormonal or endocrine levels,appetite, libido, memory, stress, or other cognitive qualities.

[0863] Polypeptide or polynucleotides and/or agonist or antagonists ofthe present invention may also be used as a food additive orpreservative, such as to increase or decrease storage capabilities, fatcontent, lipid, protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, cofactors orother nutritional components.

[0864] Other Preferred Embodiments

[0865] Other preferred embodiments of the claimed invention include anisolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which isat least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 50 contiguousnucleotides in the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X wherein X is anyinteger as defined in Table 1.

[0866] Also preferred is a nucleic acid molecule wherein said sequenceof contiguous nucleotides is included in the nucleotide sequence of SEQID NO:X in the range of positions beginning with the nucleotide at aboutthe position of the 5′ Nucleotide of the Clone Sequence and ending withthe nucleotide at about the position of the 3′ Nucleotide of the CloneSequence as defined for SEQ ID NO:X in Table 1.

[0867] Also preferred is a nucleic acid molecule wherein said sequenceof contiguous nucleotides is included in the nucleotide sequence of SEQID NO:X in the range of positions beginning with the nucleotide at aboutthe position of the 5′ Nucleotide of the Start Codon and ending with thenucleotide at about the position of the 3′ Nucleotide of the CloneSequence as defined for SEQ ID NO:X in Table 1.

[0868] Similarly preferred is a nucleic acid molecule wherein saidsequence of contiguous nucleotides is included in the nucleotidesequence of SEQ ID NO:X in the range of positions beginning with thenucleotide at about the position of the 5′ Nucleotide of the First AminoAcid of the Signal Peptide and ending with the nucleotide at about theposition of the 3, Nucleotide of the Clone Sequence as defined for SEQID NO:X in Table 1.

[0869] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising anucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a sequence of atleast about 150 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence of SEQID NO:X.

[0870] Further preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprisinga nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a sequence ofat least about 500 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence ofSEQ ID NO:X.

[0871] A further preferred embodiment is a nucleic acid moleculecomprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to thenucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X beginning with the nucleotide atabout the position of the 5′ Nucleotide of the First Amino Acid of theSignal Peptide and ending with the nucleotide at about the position ofthe 3′ Nucleotide of the Clone Sequence as defined for SEQ ID NO:X inTable 1.

[0872] A further preferred embodiment is an isolated nucleic acidmolecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95%identical to the complete nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X.

[0873] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule whichhybridizes under stringent hybridization conditions to a nucleic acidmolecule, wherein said nucleic acid molecule which hybridizes does nothybridize under stringent hybridization conditions to a nucleic acidmolecule having a nucleotide sequence consisting of only A residues orof only T residues.

[0874] Also preferred is a composition of matter comprising a DNAmolecule which comprises a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA CloneIdentifier in Table 1, which DNA molecule is contained in the materialdeposited with the American Type Culture Collection and given the ATCCDeposit Number shown in Table 1 for said cDNA Clone Identifier.

[0875] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising anucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a sequence of atleast 50 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence of a humancDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1, which DNAmolecule is contained in the deposit given the ATCC Deposit Number shownin Table 1.

[0876] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein saidsequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotides is included in thenucleotide sequence of the complete open reading frame sequence encodedby said human cDNA clone.

[0877] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising anucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to sequence of atleast 150 contiguous nucleotides in the nucleotide sequence encoded bysaid human cDNA clone.

[0878] A further preferred embodiment is an isolated nucleic acidmolecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95%identical to sequence of at least 500 contiguous nucleotides in thenucleotide sequence encoded by said human cDNA clone.

[0879] A further preferred embodiment is an isolated nucleic acidmolecule comprising a nucleotide sequence which is at least 95%identical to the complete nucleotide sequence encoded by said human cDNAclone.

[0880] A further preferred embodiment is a method for detecting in abiological sample a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotidesequence which is at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least 50contiguous nucleotides in a sequence selected from the group consistingof: a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X wherein X is any integer asdefined in Table 1; and a nucleotide sequence encoded by a human cDNAclone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained inthe deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone inTable 1; which method comprises a step of comparing a nucleotidesequence of at least one nucleic acid molecule in said sample with asequence selected from said group and determining whether the sequenceof said nucleic acid molecule in said sample is at least 95% identicalto said selected sequence.

[0881] Also preferred is the above method wherein said step of comparingsequences comprises determining the extent of nucleic acid hybridizationbetween nucleic acid molecules in said sample and a nucleic acidmolecule comprising said sequence selected from said group. Similarly,also preferred is the above method wherein said step of comparingsequences is performed by comparing the nucleotide sequence determinedfrom a nucleic acid molecule in said sample with said sequence selectedfrom said group. The nucleic acid molecules can comprise DNA moleculesor RNA molecules.

[0882] A further preferred embodiment is a method for identifying thespecies, tissue or cell type of a biological sample which methodcomprises a step of detecting nucleic acid molecules in said sample, ifany, comprising a nucleotide sequence that is at least 95% identical toa sequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotides in a sequence selectedfrom the group consisting of: a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Xwherein X is any integer as defined in Table 1; and a nucleotidesequence encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA CloneIdentifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC DepositNumber shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0883] The method for identifying the species, tissue or cell type of abiological sample can comprise a step of detecting nucleic acidmolecules comprising a nucleotide sequence in a panel of at least twonucleotide sequences, wherein at least one sequence in said panel is atleast 95% identical to a sequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotidesin a sequence selected from said group.

[0884] Also preferred is a method for diagnosing in a subject apathological condition associated with abnormal structure or expressionof a gene encoding a secreted protein identified in Table 1, whichmethod comprises a step of detecting in a biological sample obtainedfrom said subject nucleic acid molecules, if any, comprising anucleotide sequence that is at least 95% identical to a sequence of atleast 50 contiguous nucleotides in a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X wherein X is anyinteger as defined in Table 1; and a nucleotide sequence encoded by ahuman cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 andcontained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for saidcDNA clone in Table 1.

[0885] The method for diagnosing a pathological condition can comprise astep of detecting nucleic acid molecules comprising a nucleotidesequence in a panel of at least two nucleotide sequences, wherein atleast one sequence in said panel is at least 95% identical to a sequenceof at least 50 contiguous nucleotides in a sequence selected from saidgroup.

[0886] Also preferred is a composition of matter comprising isolatednucleic acid molecules wherein the nucleotide sequences of said nucleicacid molecules comprise a panel of at least two nucleotide sequences,wherein at least one sequence in said panel is at least 95% identical toa sequence of at least 50 contiguous nucleotides in a sequence selectedfrom the group consisting of: a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:Xwherein X is any integer as defined in Table 1; and a nucleotidesequence encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA CloneIdentifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC DepositNumber shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1. The nucleic acid moleculescan comprise DNA molecules or RNA molecules.

[0887] Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an aminoacid sequence at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least about 10contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y whereinY is any integer as defined in Table 1.

[0888] Also preferred is a polypeptide, wherein said sequence ofcontiguous amino acids is included in the amino acid sequence of SEQ IDNO:Y in the range of positions beginning with the residue at about theposition of the First Amino Acid of the Secreted Portion and ending withthe residue at about the Last Amino Acid of the Open Reading Frame asset forth for SEQ ID NO:Y in Table 1.

[0889] Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an aminoacid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 30contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y.

[0890] Further preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an aminoacid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 100contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y.

[0891] Further preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an aminoacid sequence at least 95% identical to the complete amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO:Y.

[0892] Further preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an aminoacid sequence at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least about 10contiguous amino acids in the complete amino acid sequence of a secretedprotein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA CloneIdentifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC DepositNumber shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0893] Also preferred is a polypeptide wherein said sequence ofcontiguous amino acids is included in the amino acid sequence of asecreted portion of the secreted protein encoded by a human cDNA cloneidentified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in thedeposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table1.

[0894] Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an aminoacid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 30contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of the secretedportion of the protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by acDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with theATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0895] Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an aminoacid sequence at least 95% identical to a sequence of at least about 100contiguous amino acids in the amino acid sequence of the secretedportion of the protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by acDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with theATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0896] Also preferred is an isolated polypeptide comprising an aminoacid sequence at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence of thesecreted portion of the protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identifiedby a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit withthe ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0897] Further preferred is an isolated antibody which bindsspecifically to a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence that isat least 90% identical to a sequence of at least 10 contiguous aminoacids in a sequence selected from the group consisting of: an amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is any integer as defined in Table 1;and a complete amino acid sequence of a protein encoded by a human cDNAclone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained inthe deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone inTable 1.

[0898] Further preferred is a method for detecting in a biologicalsample a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence which is at least90% identical to a sequence of at least 10 contiguous amino acids in asequence selected from the group consisting of: an amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is any integer as defined in Table 1; and acomplete amino acid sequence of a protein encoded by a human cDNA cloneidentified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in thedeposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table1; which method comprises a step of comparing an amino acid sequence ofat least one polypeptide molecule in said sample with a sequenceselected from said group and determining whether the sequence of saidpolypeptide molecule in said sample is at least 90% identical to saidsequence of at least 10 contiguous amino acids.

[0899] Also preferred is the above method wherein said step of comparingan amino acid sequence of at least one polypeptide molecule in saidsample with a sequence selected from said group comprises determiningthe extent of specific binding of polypeptides in said sample to anantibody which binds specifically to a polypeptide comprising an aminoacid sequence that is at least 90% identical to a sequence of at least10 contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is anyinteger as defined in Table 1; and a complete amino acid sequence of aprotein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNA CloneIdentifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCC DepositNumber shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0900] Also preferred is the above method wherein said step of comparingsequences is performed by comparing the amino acid sequence determinedfrom a polypeptide molecule in said sample with said sequence selectedfrom said group.

[0901] Also preferred is a method for identifying the species, tissue orcell type of a biological sample which method comprises a step ofdetecting polypeptide molecules in said sample, if any, comprising anamino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to a sequence of atleast 10 contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is anyinteger as defined in Table 1; and a complete amino acid sequence of asecreted protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNAClone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCCDeposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0902] Also preferred is the above method for identifying the species,tissue or cell type of a biological sample, which method comprises astep of detecting polypeptide molecules comprising an amino acidsequence in a panel of at least two amino acid sequences, wherein atleast one sequence in said panel is at least 90% identical to a sequenceof at least 10 contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from theabove group.

[0903] Also preferred is a method for diagnosing in a subject apathological condition associated with abnormal structure or expressionof a gene encoding a secreted protein identified in Table 1, whichmethod comprises a step of detecting in a biological sample obtainedfrom said subject polypeptide molecules comprising an amino acidsequence in a panel of at least two amino acid sequences, wherein atleast one sequence in said panel is at least 90% identical to a sequenceof at least 10 contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from thegroup consisting of: an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y isany integer as defined in Table 1; and a complete amino acid sequence ofa secreted protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNAClone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCCDeposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0904] In any of these methods, the step of detecting said polypeptidemolecules includes using an antibody.

[0905] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising anucleotide sequence which is at least 95% identical to a nucleotidesequence encoding a polypeptide wherein said polypeptide comprises anamino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to a sequence of atleast 10 contiguous amino acids in a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is anyinteger as defined in Table 1; and a complete amino acid sequence of asecreted protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNAClone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCCDeposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0906] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein saidnucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide has been optimized forexpression of said polypeptide in a prokaryotic host.

[0907] Also preferred is an isolated nucleic acid molecule, wherein saidpolypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is anyinteger as defined in Table 1; and a complete amino acid sequence of asecreted protein encoded by a human cDNA clone identified by a cDNAClone Identifier in Table 1 and contained in the deposit with the ATCCDeposit Number shown for said cDNA clone in Table 1.

[0908] Further preferred is a method of making a recombinant vectorcomprising inserting any of the above isolated nucleic acid moleculeinto a vector. Also preferred is the recombinant vector produced by thismethod. Also preferred is a method of making a recombinant host cellcomprising introducing the vector into a host cell, as well as therecombinant host cell produced by this method.

[0909] Also preferred is a method of making an isolated polypeptidecomprising culturing this recombinant host cell under conditions suchthat said polypeptide is expressed and recovering said polypeptide. Alsopreferred is this method of making an isolated polypeptide, wherein saidrecombinant host cell is a eukaryotic cell and said polypeptide is asecreted portion of a human secreted protein comprising an amino acidsequence selected from the group consisting of: an amino acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO:Y beginning with the residue at the position of the FirstAmino Acid of the Secreted Portion of SEQ ID NO:Y wherein Y is aninteger set forth in Table 1 and said position of the First Amino Acidof the Secreted Portion of SEQ ID NO:Y is defined in Table 1; and anamino acid sequence of a secreted portion of a protein encoded by ahuman cDNA clone identified by a cDNA Clone Identifier in Table 1 andcontained in the deposit with the ATCC Deposit Number shown for saidcDNA clone in Table 1. The isolated polypeptide produced by this methodis also preferred.

[0910] Also preferred is a method of treatment of an individual in needof an increased level of a secreted protein activity, which methodcomprises administering to such an individual a pharmaceuticalcomposition comprising an amount of an isolated polypeptide,polynucleotide, or antibody of the claimed invention effective toincrease the level of said protein activity in said individual.

[0911] The above-recited applications have uses in a wide variety ofhosts. Such hosts include, but are not limited to, human, murine,rabbit, goat, guinea pig, camel, horse, mouse, rat, hamster, pig,micro-pig, chicken, goat, cow, sheep, dog, cat, non-human primate, andhuman. In specific embodiments, the host is a mouse, rabbit, goat,guinea pig, chicken, rat, hamster, pig, sheep, dog or cat. In preferredembodiments, the host is a mammal. In most preferred embodiments, thehost is a human.

[0912] In specific embodiments of the invention, for each “Contig ID”listed in the fourth column of Table 6, preferably excluded are one ormore polynucleotides comprising, or alternatively consisting of, anucleotide sequence referenced in the fifth column of Table 6 anddescribed by the general formula of a-b, whereas a and b are uniquelydetermined for the corresponding SEQ ID NO:X referred to in column 3 ofTable 6. Further specific embodiments are directed to polynucleotidesequences excluding one, two, three, four, or more of the specificpolynucleotide sequences referred to in the fifth column of Table 6. Inno way is this listing meant to encompass all of the sequences which maybe excluded by the general formula, it is just a representative example.All references available through these accessions are herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety. TABLE 6 NT SEQ Gene cDNA IDNO: No. Clone ID X Contig ID Public Accession Numbers 1 HAPNJ39 11893680 W72062, AI827219, AI631461, W76255, AW449295, AI354957, AI222040,AI913803, T62772, T62921, T63781, AA364800, and AF088057. 2 HDQFU27 12893681 AW291054, AI701452, AI432431, AA062940, AI261680, AW439771,AI659786, AI190327, AI342833, AA446894, AA035542, AA226796, AI862517,AI359630, AI523357, AA447014, AI950538, AI218436, H04230, AI399710,H02927, AW006749, AA227094, D45534, AA679692, AA326280, AI568055,AL039309, AI087843, AL037777, AI246061, AI124779, AI249853, AW373645,AI018726, AI183878, AI054090, AI283022, AA318347, AI891038, H43183,F00937, AI049504, AI251241, AI284543, AA931871, H69179, AI254770,AI251944, AI251034, AI251203, R60108, AI251284, AI250552, AW206211,AI671077, AA738230, AI620266, AW084840, W63553, AL022323, Z99943,AC005968, AC005157, AL031730, AC005940, AL034429, AC007540, AC008372,Z97632, AC004032, AL031770, AL031279, Y10196, AP000295, AC002978,AC008119, AC000115, Z82097, U91321, AC004812, AC005622, AP000044,AP000112, AC008055, AL008635, AC000105, AC003689, AL050312, AC004132,AC007688, AL049539, AC004104, AC002476, AL031293, AC006441, U96629,AC004626, U29953, AC005069, Z83846, AC000134, AL022330, AC004087,AL022476, AC004596, AL137100, Z92542, AC004475, AC005220, AL022334,AC006057, AC006160, AL079342, AL031284, AC004465, AC005523, AC005933,Z93023, AL031728, AC004662, AC005329, AC004593, AC007676, AC007263,AC004230, AC007040, AP000354, AC007347, AC004799, AC004779, AC004616,AC004841, AL031681, AC002554, AL021155, AC007192, Z99774, AC002553,AC004458, AC005203, AC003657, AC012085, AL049825, AC004678, AC005182,AL035423, AL031662, AC005606, AC004125, AC005781, AC005209, Z49258,AC005273, AL023755, AC007036, Z97832, AC007842, AC004797, AL035410,AL133500, AF196969, AL049575, AL080286, AC003013, AL035249, AC004491,AL021528, AL022097, AC003684, AP000355, AC005684, AC006992, AF196972,AC005815, AL078611, AF207550, AC003103, AL133546, AL031686, AL035089,AC002310, AL109941, AC008101, AL009179, AC005061, AL031666, AC007707,U62293, AL109628, U63721, AL132642, AL031178, AC005912, AL096808,AC007637, AC005006, AF222685, AC006275, AL035427, AC007425, AL135783,AC005089, AL035684, AL132712, AC006509, AL035400, Z68192, Z98752,AC005480, AC005295, AC016831, AL022576, AC006111, AC006257, AC007880,AL031718, AC007938, AC002045, AF017104, AC004030, AP000356, AC008040,AL031984, AF139813, AL109842, M89651, AP000065, AC004752, AC006229,AL035587, AP000302, Z98047, AP000114, AP000046, AP000959, AC009731,AF073710, AL121658, Z83851, AL035695, Z93017, AL049764, Z82173, L47334,AC004782, AC005803, AC003108, AL031803, AL031589, AL023281, AL133246,AL031295, AL022319, AC004787, U91322, AC004922, and AC002352. 3 HETJZ4513 893682 AW155639, AI834221, AW444867, and AL121756. 4 HTEMX36 14893685 AA005252, N24369, AI016736, AA459480, W44654, AI424252, AA456810,N31655, N28722, AW402165, N40070, W37566, Z20099, N54226, R76147,N36361, N48394, H96499, AA471170, AW295388, R63777, R63559, R25773,AW299667, AI760752, AA093981, W17072, AA248526, AI627335, AW364472,Z20098, AI796538, AI766087, AI961189, H13071, N38761, N51101, AW024149,AA917650, AW273334, AA005166, AW242734, AI654126, AA772219, AI650715,N23057, AA282144, AA843682, AI950104, AI672398, AI219421, AI160599, andAA826202. 5 HNTCH90 15 893684 AA677458, AW450623, AI052327, AA811519,AW340291, AA811528, R08945, AI400110, R27431, AA005399, R25938,AA423942, AB002444, and AB002443. 6 HWLBP46 16 898250 AI678812,AA487209, AA219349, AA484892, AA507814, R93882, AA984857, AI679394,AI925423, AI679902, AI356440, AI355103, F23338, AI635440, AA525331,AA503144, AI620668, AI271762, T03576, AA676592, AI619994, AW275432,AI298079, AA878492, AW302017, AW193493, AI254959, R99144, AA568399,AI567391, T47138, AA847427, AA846923, AI246080, AA523330, AA550959,AI538236, AA018923, AA568204, AA570740, AA483606, AW188742, AA302982,AW088656, AA299422, AA815038, AA768179, AI151261, F04710, AA709362,W45306, AA302661, AI243793, AI185394, AW023111, AI049630, AA666295,AI698478, AA654874, AA837686, AI589942, AA598954, AI358712, AA525253,AA847508, AW082495, N70425, AA587516, AA584655, AW265359, AW005716,F23327, AA102737, AA599423, AI801563, AA565319, AA583386, AA808173,AI973173, AW089625, AI708108, AA831638, F31066, AW262184, AF139813,AC003025, AC004228, AC007546, L34635, I34294, AC004496, AC006111,AD000092, AL135744, AL049856, AL021453, AL021392, AC007283, AC005225,AC005600, U89337, M87889, AC008040, AC008033, AC000003, AC002072,AC007666, AL008718, AC002039, AL049694, AC005037, AL023553, Z94802,AC004448, AC004526, AF050154, AC005745, AC005516, AL121653, U48471,AC005328, AC008055, AL035587, AC006130, AC004230, AL031664, AL096791,AC006040, U91326, AC002544, AC006141, AP000497, AC006468, AL030996,AP000689, AF118808, L43411, AL021707, D00596, AC005235, AC007384,AC005822, Z70280, AL022237, AC004783, AL022326, AC005841, AF207550,AF196969, X58139, AC005755, AL022163, AC005011, AL033539, AC005409,AL031281, AC005412, Z97054, Z82243, AC004223, AC005971, Z99497,AF124523, AC002115, AC004235, AC005764, AJ003147, AF001549, AL132712,AC007011, AL031673, AL049776, U95742, AC006088, AC007216, AC005778,AL049570, AP000502, Z94721, AC005332, AP000008, AC005015, AC003081,AC005846, AL049553, AC004000, AF019413, AC008015, AC006064, AE000662,AL035071, AC004938, AC006285, Z93020, AC006121, AC004019, AC002365,AC004968, AC002310, AC005914, AC000075, AC007240, AP000704, AC002082,U73634, M94081, AC007065, Z30952, AL035457, AC005081, AC005274,AL096701, AR060469, AC006581, AC005664, AC006211, L78810, Y10196,AL133485, AL133246, AC002357, AC004706, Z94801, AL133304, AL121603,AL031295, AC005082, AC005619, AF111168, AC000026, AC004889, AC007308,AC005800, AC004476, AC004816, AC005190, AC005288, AC003029, AC007934,Z93930, AC005901, AC005010, AC005911, AC004594, AC005252, AC002059,AL133312, AC005913, AC002559, AL031282, AC004067, AC005186, AC005215,AC005058, AC005410, AB016897, AC000120, AL109963, AC004821, AC002563,AL034549, AL031587, AL034429, AC004859, Y14768, AC005696, AP000215,AL031005, AL022318, AC004257, AL034420, AC004675, AC002470, AL031722,AC004885, AC007225, AC005828, AB011399, AC005300, AF071540, AC004638,Z98036, AL133245, AP000555, AJ010770, AC005625, AC004475, AC005220,AC004890, AL031584, AF129756, AJ238093, U73644, Z98749, AL021937,AC002106, AL031117, L09706, AC005730, AP000518, Z98946, Z84487,AL035398, Z83845, AC007676, AC005004, AP000146, D86995, Y11107,AC006960, AC005291, AF088219, AC005527, AC020663, AL022311, AC008134,and AC005702. 7 HA5BM53 17 898240 N90645, AI801318, AA024660, N91670,AA247867, AA024966, AW292720, AA332181, C01523, N69121, AA248970,Z99396, AL037085, AL119457, AL036418, AL038837, AL119324, AL037051,AL036725, AA631969, AW392670, AL134524, AL039074, AL119522, AL119399,AL119443, AL036924, AL036858, AL038509, AW372827, AL039564, AL039085,AL039156, AL039108, AL039109, AL039128, AW384394, AL119391, AL119319,AL042544, AL037054, AL119484, AL036836, AL119418, AL037094, AL039659,AW363220, U46349, AL036196, AL119497, AL036190, U46350, AL037639,AL038531, AL037526, AL036767, AL037082, AL119363, AL119483, U46351,AL119355, AL039625, AL039648, U46341, AL045337, AL036238, U46346,AL119341, AL119335, AL119439, AL119396, AL042909, AL039678, AL039629,U46347, AL039386, AL119496, AI142139, AL038851, AL039423, AL036268,AL038447, AL039150, AL037077, AL119444, AL037205, AL119401, AL038520,AL040992, AL042614, AI142137, AL036998, AL036733, AL037615, AL043019,AL134525, AL042984, AL042965, AL042975, AL037027, AL039410, U46345,AL134518, AL134528, AL134538, AL037178, AL036679, AL042542, AL036719,AL119464, AL042551, AL036191, AL043029, AL042450, AL042896, AL043003,AL036765, AL036774, AL037021, AF161508, AR060234, AR066494, A81671,AR069079, AR023813, AR064707, AB026436, and AR054110. 8 HMCEH49 18898247 AW237733, AI568189, AI340966, AA554834, AA758744, AW390332,AA782013, AW015171, AA364840, and D14664. 9 HKBAL25 29 898246 AI132995,AW295848, AI247571, AW131386, AW190967, T48852, AA344713, AF223403,AF195092, AJ130710, AJ007395, AF170485, AF193441, AF135027, AJ130711,AJ130712, and AJ130713. 10 HE8EF43 20 898244 AA447232, H83253, AA377805,H53182, AA300104, AA295304, W00562, and AA478880. 11 HE2RN91 21 898243AI992073, AI956052, AI356886, AI334836, AA587945, AW274912, AA527134,AW003909, AA584337, AI860787, D61656, AI418838, AI760811, AI383513,AI760897, AA613546, T03541, AA412373, AI924571, and AI000878. 12 HNTDX2222 899515 AI743609, AW161910, AW207448, AI377410, AI809323, AW274513,AI701863, AI393166, AI554140, AI928915, AW139961, AW134552, AI807833,AI298727, AW341715, AI215587, AI802760, AI690054, AW086456, AI805812,AW139094, AI291996, AI369870, AW263626, AW206742, AI681319, AI421869,AA984066, AI703328, AI338365, AI796837, AI694119, AW205602, AW341366,AI680743, AI743418, AA904812, AW205992, AI458692, AI290841, AI285893,AI694903, AA988485, AI458681, AW418622, AI800635, AA400940, AA902195,AI267891, AI703355, AI802192, AI700993, AA887535, AI348476, AW014672,AW015977, AI694555, AI750654, AI267878, AI700202, AW139893, AI199596,AW207275, AI802052, AA984020, AA972955, AA973411, AI216817, AI216015,AI796033, AA776034, AA446692, AI458558, AI350253, AA985550, AI702100,AI342744, AA971552, AW380599, AA962151, AW135820, AW152491, AW207796,W38901, AA400963, AA131498, AA446566, AW183307, AI498253, AI869618,AI031986, AA909051, AI917023, AI290926, AA910401, D59899, AW015637,AA826480, AI239458, AA035142, AA932420, AI685259, AW051396, AW295523,T05430, AA814623, AI478857, AA902500, AA131399, AA878709, AI750655,AI492280, AA742695, AA725615, AI268531, AI146592, AI078520, AI805810,AA035531, AW138949, AW418786, AA995247, D81506, AA931696, D59269,N78407, AI924405, AA769795, AA455825, H98940, AI291754, N95064,AA455020, AW016446, AW068639, AI302022, AA938146, AA300197, AI302020,AA331187, AI301427, AA035530, H98052, N62636, AA985649, AA989013,AA716270, W56538, AA929007, AF151900, AB029156, AL109689, AB029493,AL133102, AJ237996, E08545, E08546, D16431, E14401, D63850, and E17010.13 HHFCE59 23 899514 AI686303, AI972512, AI949693, AA974411, AA974407,AI763253, AW015818, AI094389, AI631158, AA988147, AA251753, AI207153,AA608662, AA417590, AA347263, AA258095, AW188946, T99523, AA251961,T99417, AA347262, AA372554, AA332734, AI566355, AW119129, AA342961,AC004865, AE000664, AB020867, AF053356, AE000658, AL031054, AC004028,AL022152, AC004775, AL132641, and AC005502. 14 HCGAD44 24 899863AI815717, AA206652, AA292449, AW160913, AW291470, D63850, and E14401. 15HTLIO20 25 898249 T71253, AB002298, and AF169411. 16 HE9PM90 26 899507AA528172, AI870515, AW022634, AI122636, AI807139, AI524135, AW117562,AI332968, W94241, AI034051, AW119174, N53839, AI378914, AI708759,AA699609, AA425884, AA909771, AI086409, AI312652, AI382156, AI161356,AA635388, AA633491, W94238, W46444, AA746370, AA228039, AI362190,AA443159, AA975136, AI144548, W94114, R33101, AA713985, AI350918,AI301665, AA928203, AI864872, AA702159, AI052284, AI340996, W95293,AA228149, AI497988, AA084519, AA223979, F22291, F21666, AW262545,AI421254, W69785, AI492628, F22149, AI038217, AA782142, H51447,AA633151, F29644, W95550, N73336, W51800, AA524187, AI220373, AI718892,AA978346, H51405, AA866163, W69733, T48735, AA082415, W78797, F26124,AI971845, AA224044, AA704978, AI066547, W92564, Z22018, AA918327,AA306319, AA928012, W46469, AA002051, AA463446, AA970170, W95702,F36672, R33196, F20308, AI460269, F34207, W95701, AA378930, AA090815,AA661851, C21256, T48734, F18648, AA428745, AA093730, AA666150,AA062817, AI027170, AA001847, AI264217, AI653972, AI202069, AF161453,AC004985, and AF015416. 17 HSSJJ51 27 900561 AI682301, AA368885,AI078870, AI611295, AA323287, AF192499, and AL031713. 18 HBIMF63 28898241 AI791374, AI732981, AA863023, T29533, AA371590, AA368653,AA368459, AA368141, AA367423, AA367717, AA367826, AA368243, AA369554,AA369555, AA368631, AA369541, AA368028, AA367422, AA368111, AA368695,AA369315, D59082, C19046, T39388, T40583, AA368046, AA369390, AA367927,AA369341, AA368208, AA368319, AA368543, D59202, AA367550, C17626,T40563, T40592, AA368190, AA367700, AA367828, AA368886, AA368171,AA368268, D59250, AA368481, AA368553, C17635, D79138, AA368054,AA369085, AA369530, AA371812, AA368158, AA368008, D59199, AA368121,AA368849, D58605, T40587, AA368137, D58590, C18377, AA368436, T40571,D58533, T40692, T40574, T40581, T40621, T40642, T40688, AA367841,AA367669, T40557, AA368009, T40648, AA367676, AA368374, AA367677,AA368019, AA367744, AA368002, AA367591, AA367922, C17865, AA368056,T29415, AA367850, AA368549, T40549, T40584, AA368547, AA367589,AA368697, AA367945, AA367872, AA368005, T40559, D58886, T40638, T40635,AA367670, AA369000, AA340120, AA369539, T40558, C18174, D58633, T29419,T40673, T40666, T40664, D78900, T40613, T40653, T40615, C16875, T40657,T40542, AA369542, D58861, AA368758, C17031, T39428, AA368395, AJ007670,A18663, A18662, J03071, I02857, M13438, E00140, K00470, U02293, I41411,M15895, K02401, V00520, I02858, J00289, M15894, AF110644, A00469,V00519, E00952, J03756, AF006061, E00009, J00118, L16553, L16552,L16554, L16555, A10352, and E00974.

[0913] Having generally described the invention, the same will be morereadily understood by reference to the following examples, which areprovided by way of illustration and are not intended as limiting.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Isolation of a Selected cDNA Clone From the DepositedSample

[0914] Each cDNA clone in a cited ATCC deposit is contained in a plasmidvector. Table 1 identifies the vectors used to construct the cDNAlibrary from which each clone was isolated. In many cases, the vectorused to construct the library is a phage vector from which a plasmid hasbeen excised. The table immediately below correlates the related plasmidfor each phage vector used in constructing the cDNA library. Forexample, where a particular clone is identified in Table 1 as beingisolated in the vector “Lambda Zap,” the corresponding deposited cloneis in “pBluescript. ” Vector Used to Corresponding Construct LibraryDeposited Plasmid Lambda Zap pBluescript (pBS) Uni-Zap XR pBluescript(pBS) Zap Express pBK lafmid BA plafmid BA pSport1 pSport1 pCMVSport 2.0pCMVSport 2.0 pCMVSport 3.0 pCMVSport 3.0 pCR^(®)2.1 pCR^(®)2.1

[0915] Vectors Lambda Zap (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,128,256 and 5,286,636),Uni-Zap XR (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,128,256 and 5,286,636), Zap Express (U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,128,256 and 5,286,636), pBluescript (pBS) (Short, J. M. etal., Nucleic Acids Res. 16:7583-7600 (1988); Alting-Mees, M. A. andShort, J. M., Nucleic Acids Res. 17:9494 (1989)) and pBK (Alting-Mees,M. A. et al., Strategies 5:58-61 (1992)) are commercially available fromStratagene Cloning Systems, Inc., 11011 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla,Calif., 92037. pBS contains an ampicillin resistance gene and pBKcontains a neomycin resistance gene. Both can be transformed into E.coli strain XL-1 Blue, also available from Stratagene. pBS comes in 4forms SK+, SK−, KS+ and KS. The S and K refers to the orientation of thepolylinker to the T7 and T3 primer sequences which flank the polylinkerregion (“S” is for SacI and “K” is for KpnI which are the first sites oneach respective end of the linker). “+” or “−” refer to the orientationof the f1 origin of replication (“ori”), such that in one orientation,single stranded rescue initiated from the f1 ori generates sense strandDNA and in the other, antisense.

[0916] Vectors pSport1, pCMVSport 2.0 and pCMVSport 3.0, were obtainedfrom Life Technologies, Inc., P.O. Box 6009, Gaithersburg, Md. 20897.All Sport vectors contain an ampicillin resistance gene and may betransformed into E. coli strain DH10B, also available from LifeTechnologies. (See, for instance, Gruber, C. E., et al., Focus 15:59(1993).) Vector lafmid BA (Bento Soares, Columbia University, NY)contains an ampicillin resistance gene and can be transformed into E.coli strain XL-1 Blue. Vector pCR®2.1, which is available fromInvitrogen, 1600 Faraday Avenue, Carlsbad, Calif. 92008, contains anampicillin resistance gene and may be transformed into E. coli strainDH10B, available from Life Technologies. (See, for instance, Clark, J.M., Nuc. Acids Res. 16:9677-9686 (1988) and Mead, D. et al.,Bio/Technology 9: (1991).) Preferably, a polynucleotide of the presentinvention does not comprise the phage vector sequences identified forthe particular clone in Table 1, as well as the corresponding plasmidvector sequences designated above.

[0917] The deposited material in the sample assigned the ATCC DepositNumber cited in Table 1 for any given cDNA clone also may contain one ormore additional plasmids, each comprising a cDNA clone different fromthat given clone. Thus, deposits sharing the same ATCC Deposit Numbercontain at least a plasmid for each cDNA clone identified in Table 1.Typically, each ATCC deposit sample cited in Table 1 comprises a mixtureof approximately equal amounts (by weight) of about 50 plasmid DNAs,each containing a different cDNA clone; but such a deposit sample mayinclude plasmids for more or less than 50 cDNA clones, up to about 500cDNA clones.

[0918] Two approaches can be used to isolate a particular clone from thedeposited sample of plasmid DNAs cited for that clone in Table 1. First,a plasmid is directly isolated by screening the clones using apolynucleotide probe corresponding to SEQ ID NO:X.

[0919] Particularly, a specific polynucleotide with 30-40 nucleotides issynthesized using an Applied Biosystems DNA synthesizer according to thesequence reported. The oligonucleotide is labeled, for instance, with³²P-γ-ATP using T4 polynucleotide kinase and purified according toroutine methods. (E.g., Maniatis et al., Molecular Cloning: A LaboratoryManual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring, N.Y. (1982).) The plasmidmixture is transformed into a suitable host, as indicated above (such asXL-1 Blue (Stratagene)) using techniques known to those of skill in theart, such as those provided by the vector supplier or in relatedpublications or patents cited above. The transformants are plated on1.5% agar plates (containing the appropriate selection agent, e.g.,ampicillin) to a density of about 150 transformants (colonies) perplate. These plates are screened using Nylon membranes according toroutine methods for bacterial colony screening (e.g., Sambrook et al.,Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Edit., (1989), Cold SpringHarbor Laboratory Press, pages 1.93 to 1.104), or other techniques knownto those of skill in the art.

[0920] Alternatively, two primers of 17-20 nucleotides derived from bothends of the SEQ ID NO:X (i.e., within the region of SEQ ID NO:X boundedby the 5′ NT and the 3′ NT of the clone defined in Table 1) aresynthesized and used to amplify the desired cDNA using the depositedcDNA plasmid as a template. The polymerase chain reaction is carried outunder routine conditions, for instance, in 25 ul of reaction mixturewith 0.5 ug of the above cDNA template. A convenient reaction mixture is1.5-5 mM MgCl₂, 0.01% (w/v) gelatin, 20 uM each of dATP, dCTP, dGTP,dTTP, 25 pmol of each primer and 0.25 Unit of Taq polymerase. Thirtyfive cycles of PCR (denaturation at 94 degree C. for 1 min; annealing at55 degree C. for 1 min; elongation at 72 degree C. for 1 min) areperformed with a Perkin-Elmer Cetus automated thermal cycler. Theamplified product is analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and the DNAband with expected molecular weight is excised and purified. The PCRproduct is verified to be the selected sequence by subcloning andsequencing the DNA product.

[0921] Several methods are available for the identification of the 5′ or3′ non-coding portions of a gene which may not be present in thedeposited clone. These methods include but are not limited to, filterprobing, clone enrichment using specific probes, and protocols similaror identical to 5′ and 3, “RACE” protocols which are well known in theart. For instance, a method similar to 5′ RACE is available forgenerating the missing 5′ end of a desired full-length transcript.(Fromont-Racine et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 21(7):1683-1684 (1993).)

[0922] Briefly, a specific RNA oligonucleotide is ligated to the 5′ endsof a population of RNA presumably containing full-length gene RNAtranscripts. A primer set containing a primer specific to the ligatedRNA oligonucleotide and a primer specific to a known sequence of thegene of interest is used to PCR amplify the 5′ portion of the desiredfull-length gene. This amplified product may then be sequenced and usedto generate the full length gene.

[0923] This above method starts with total RNA isolated from the desiredsource, although poly-A+ RNA can be used. The RNA preparation can thenbe treated with phosphatase if necessary to eliminate 5′ phosphategroups on degraded or damaged RNA which may interfere with the later RNAligase step. The phosphatase should then be inactivated and the RNAtreated with tobacco acid pyrophosphatase in order to remove the capstructure present at the 5′ ends of messenger RNAs. This reaction leavesa 5′ phosphate group at the 5′ end of the cap cleaved RNA which can thenbe ligated to an RNA oligonucleotide using T4 RNA ligase.

[0924] This modified RNA preparation is used as a template for firststrand cDNA synthesis using a gene specific oligonucleotide. The firststrand synthesis reaction is used as a template for PCR amplification ofthe desired 5′ end using a primer specific to the ligated RNAoligonucleotide and a primer specific to the known sequence of the geneof interest. The resultant product is then sequenced and analyzed toconfirm that the 5′ end sequence belongs to the desired gene.

Example 2 Isolation of Genomic Clones Corresponding to a Polynucleotide

[0925] A human genomic P1 library (Genomic Systems, Inc.) is screened byPCR using primers selected for the cDNA sequence corresponding to SEQ IDNO:X., according to the method described in Example 1. (See also,Sambrook.)

Example 3 Tissue Distribution of Polypeptide

[0926] Tissue distribution of mRNA expression of polynucleotides of thepresent invention is determined using protocols for Northern blotanalysis, described by, among others, Sambrook et al. For example, acDNA probe produced by the method described in Example 1 is labeled withP³² using the rediprime™ DNA labeling system (Amersham Life Science),according to manufacturer's instructions. After labeling, the probe ispurified using CHROMA SPIN-100™ column (Clontech Laboratories, Inc.),according to manufacturer's protocol number PT1200-1. The purifiedlabeled probe is then used to examine various human tissues for mRNAexpression.

[0927] Multiple Tissue Northern (MTN) blots containing various humantissues (H) or human immune system tissues (IM) (Clontech) are examinedwith the labeled probe using ExpressHyb™ hybridization solution(Clontech) according to manufacturer's protocol number PT1190-1.Following hybridization and washing, the blots are mounted and exposedto film at −70 degree C. overnight, and the films developed according tostandard procedures.

Example 4 Chromosomal Mapping of the Polynucleotides

[0928] An oligonucleotide primer set is designed according to thesequence at the 5′ end of SEQ ID NO:X. This primer preferably spansabout 100 nucleotides. This primer set is then used in a polymerasechain reaction under the following set of conditions: 30 seconds, 95degree C.; 1 minute, 56 degree C.; 1 minute, 70 degree C. This cycle isrepeated 32 times followed by one 5 minute cycle at 70 degree C. Human,mouse, and hamster DNA is used as template in addition to a somatic cellhybrid panel containing individual chromosomes or chromosome fragments(Bios, Inc). The reactions is analyzed on either 8% polyacrylamide gelsor 3.5% agarose gels. Chromosome mapping is determined by the presenceof an approximately 100 bp PCR fragment in the particular somatic cellhybrid.

Example 5 Bacterial Expression of a Polypeptide

[0929] A polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide of the present inventionis amplified using PCR oligonucleotide primers corresponding to the 5′and 3′ ends of the DNA sequence, as outlined in Example 1, to synthesizeinsertion fragments. The primers used to amplify the cDNA insert shouldpreferably contain restriction sites, such as BamHI and XbaI, at the 5′end of the primers in order to clone the amplified product into theexpression vector. For example, BamHI and XbaI correspond to therestriction enzyme sites on the bacterial expression vector pQE-9.(Qiagen, Inc., Chatsworth, Calif.). This plasmid vector encodesantibiotic resistance (Ampr), a bacterial origin of replication (ori),an IPTG-regulatable promoter/operator (P/O), a ribosome binding site(RBS), a 6-histidine tag (6-His), and restriction enzyme cloning sites.

[0930] The pQE-9 vector is digested with BamHI and XbaI and theamplified fragment is ligated into the pQE-9 vector maintaining thereading frame initiated at the bacterial RBS. The ligation mixture isthen used to transform the E. coli strain M15/rep4 (Qiagen, Inc.) whichcontains multiple copies of the plasmid pREP4, which expresses the lacIrepressor and also confers kanamycin resistance (Kan^(r)). Transformantsare identified by their ability to grow on LB plates andampicillin/kanamycin resistant colonies are selected. Plasmid DNA isisolated and confirmed by restriction analysis.

[0931] Clones containing the desired constructs are grown overnight(O/N) in liquid culture in LB media supplemented with both Amp (100ug/ml) and Kan (25 ug/ml). The O/N culture is used to inoculate a largeculture at a ratio of 1:100 to 1:250. The cells are grown to an opticaldensity 600 (O.D.⁶⁰⁰) of between 0.4 and 0.6. IPTG(Isopropyl-B-D-thiogalacto pyranoside) is then added to a finalconcentration of 1 mM. IPTG induces by inactivating the lacI repressor,clearing the P/O leading to increased gene expression.

[0932] Cells are grown for an extra 3 to 4 hours. Cells are thenharvested by centrifugation (20 mins at 6000×g). The cell pellet issolubilized in the chaotropic agent 6 Molar Guanidine HCl by stirringfor 3-4 hours at 4 degree C. The cell debris is removed bycentrifugation, and the supernatant containing the polypeptide is loadedonto a nickel-nitrilo-tri-acetic acid (“Ni-NTA”) affinity resin column(available from QIAGEN, Inc., supra). Proteins with a 6×His tag bind tothe Ni-NTA resin with high affinity and can be purified in a simpleone-step procedure (for details see: The QIAexpressionist (1995) QIAGEN,Inc., supra).

[0933] Briefly, the supernatant is loaded onto the column in 6 Mguanidine-HCl, pH 8, the column is first washed with 10 volumes of 6 Mguanidine-HCl, pH 8, then washed with 10 volumes of 6 M guanidine-HCl pH6, and finally the polypeptide is eluted with 6 M guanidine-HCl, pH 5.

[0934] The purified protein is then renatured by dialyzing it againstphosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or 50 mM Na-acetate, pH 6 buffer plus200 mM NaCl. Alternatively, the protein can be successfully refoldedwhile immobilized on the Ni-NTA column. The recommended conditions areas follows: renature using a linear 6M-1M urea gradient in 500 mM NaCl,20% glycerol, 20 mM Tris/HCl pH 7.4, containing protease inhibitors. Therenaturation should be performed over a period of 1.5 hours or more.After renaturation the proteins are eluted by the addition of 250 mMimmidazole. Immidazole is removed by a final dialyzing step against PBSor 50 mM sodium acetate pH 6 buffer plus 200 mM NaCl. The purifiedprotein is stored at 4 degree C. or frozen at −80 degree C.

[0935] In addition to the above expression vector, the present inventionfurther includes an expression vector comprising phage operator andpromoter elements operatively linked to a polynucleotide of the presentinvention, called pHE4a. (ATCC Accession Number 209645, deposited onFeb. 25, 1998.) This vector contains:

[0936] 1) a neomycinphosphotransferase gene as a selection marker, 2) anE. coli origin of replication, 3) a T5 phage promoter sequence, 4) twolac operator sequences, 5) a Shine-Delgarno sequence, and 6) the lactoseoperon repressor gene (lacIq). The origin of replication (oriC) isderived from pUC19 (LTI, Gaithersburg, Md.). The promoter sequence andoperator sequences are made synthetically.

[0937] DNA can be inserted into the pHEa by restricting the vector withNdeI and XbaI, BamHI, XhoI, or Asp718, running the restricted product ona gel, and isolating the larger fragment (the stuffer fragment should beabout 310 base pairs). The DNA insert is generated according to the PCRprotocol described in Example 1, using PCR primers having restrictionsites for NdeI (5′ primer) and XbaI, BamHI, XhoI, or Asp718 (3′ primer).The PCR insert is gel purified and restricted with compatible enzymes.The insert and vector are ligated according to standard protocols.

[0938] The engineered vector could easily be substituted in the aboveprotocol to express protein in a bacterial system.

Example 6 Purification of a Polypeptide from an Inclusion Body

[0939] The following alternative method can be used to purify apolypeptide expressed in E coli when it is present in the form ofinclusion bodies. Unless otherwise specified, all of the following stepsare conducted at 4-10 degree C.

[0940] Upon completion of the production phase of the E. colifermentation, the cell culture is cooled to 4-10 degree C. and the cellsharvested by continuous centrifugation at 15,000 rpm (Heraeus Sepatech).On the basis of the expected yield of protein per unit weight of cellpaste and the amount of purified protein required, an appropriate amountof cell paste, by weight, is suspended in a buffer solution containing100 mM Tris, 50 mM EDTA, pH 7.4. The cells are dispersed to ahomogeneous suspension using a high shear mixer.

[0941] The cells are then lysed by passing the solution through amicrofluidizer (Microfuidics, Corp. or APV Gaulin, Inc.) twice at4000-6000 psi. The homogenate is then mixed with NaCl solution to afinal concentration of 0.5 M NaCl, followed by centrifugation at 7000 xgfor 15 min. The resultant pellet is washed again using 0.5M NaCl, 100 mMTris, 50 mM EDTA, pH 7.4.

[0942] The resulting washed inclusion bodies are solubilized with 1.5 Mguanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl) for 2-4 hours. After 7000 xgcentrifugation for 15 min., the pellet is discarded and the polypeptidecontaining supernatant is incubated at 4 degree C. overnight to allowfurther GuHCl extraction.

[0943] Following high speed centrifugation (30,000×g) to removeinsoluble particles, the GuHCl solubilized protein is refolded byquickly mixing the GuHCl extract with 20 volumes of buffer containing 50mM sodium, pH 4.5, 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM EDTA by vigorous stirring. Therefolded diluted protein solution is kept at 4 degree C. without mixingfor 12 hours prior to further purification steps.

[0944] To clarify the refolded polypeptide solution, a previouslyprepared tangential filtration unit equipped with 0.16 um membranefilter with appropriate surface area (e.g., Filtron), equilibrated with40 mM sodium acetate, pH 6.0 is employed. The filtered sample is loadedonto a cation exchange resin (e.g., Poros HS-50, Perseptive Biosystems).The column is washed with 40 mM sodium acetate, pH 6.0 and eluted with250 mM, 500 mM, 1000 mM, and 1500 mM NaCl in the same buffer, in astepwise manner. The absorbance at 280 nm of the effluent iscontinuously monitored. Fractions are collected and further analyzed bySDS-PAGE.

[0945] Fractions containing the polypeptide are then pooled and mixedwith 4 volumes of water. The diluted sample is then loaded onto apreviously prepared set of tandem columns of strong anion (Poros HQ-50,Perseptive Biosystems) and weak anion (Poros CM-20, PerseptiveBiosystems) exchange resins. The columns are equilibrated with 40 mMsodium acetate, pH 6.0. Both columns are washed with 40 mM sodiumacetate, pH 6.0, 200 mM NaCl. The CM-20 column is then eluted using a 10column volume linear gradient ranging from 0.2 M NaCl, 50 mM sodiumacetate, pH 6.0 to 1.0 M NaCl, 50 mM sodium acetate, pH 6.5. Fractionsare collected under constant A₂₈₀ monitoring of the effluent. Fractionscontaining the polypeptide (determined, for instance, by 16% SDS-PAGE)are then pooled.

[0946] The resultant polypeptide should exhibit greater than 95% purityafter the above refolding and purification steps. No major contaminantbands should be observed from Commassie blue stained 16% SDS-PAGE gelwhen 5 ug of purified protein is loaded. The purified protein can alsobe tested for endotoxin/LPS contamination, and typically the LPS contentis less than 0.1 ng/ml according to LAL assays.

Example 7 Cloning and Expression of a Polypeptide in a BaculovirusExpression System

[0947] In this example, the plasmid shuttle vector pA2 is used to inserta polynucleotide into a baculovirus to express a polypeptide. Thisexpression vector contains the strong polyhedrin promoter of theAutographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) followed byconvenient restriction sites such as BamHI, Xba I and Asp718. Thepolyadenylation site of the simian virus 40 (“SV40”) is used forefficient polyadenylation. For easy selection of recombinant virus, theplasmid contains the beta-galactosidase gene from E. coli under controlof a weak Drosophila promoter in the same orientation, followed by thepolyadenylation signal of the polyhedrin gene. The inserted genes areflanked on both sides by viral sequences for cell-mediated homologousrecombination with wild-type viral DNA to generate a viable virus thatexpress the cloned polynucleotide.

[0948] Many other baculovirus vectors can be used in place of the vectorabove, such as pAc373, pVL941, and pAcIM1, as one skilled in the artwould readily appreciate, as long as the construct providesappropriately located signals for transcription, translation, secretionand the like, including a signal peptide and an in-frame AUG asrequired. Such vectors are described, for instance, in Luckow et al.,Virology 170:31-39 (1989).

[0949] Specifically, the cDNA sequence contained in the deposited clone,including the AUG initiation codon and the naturally associated leadersequence identified in Table 1, is amplified using the PCR protocoldescribed in Example 1. If the naturally occurring signal sequence isused to produce the secreted protein, the pA2 vector does not need asecond signal peptide. Alternatively, the vector can be modified (pA2GP) to include a baculovirus leader sequence, using the standard methodsdescribed in Summers et al., “A Manual of Methods for BaculovirusVectors and Insect Cell Culture Procedures,” Texas AgriculturalExperimental Station Bulletin No. 1555 (1987).

[0950] The amplified fragment is isolated from a 1% agarose gel using acommercially available kit (“Geneclean,” BIO 101 Inc., La Jolla,Calif.). The fragment then is digested with appropriate restrictionenzymes and again purified on a 1% agarose gel.

[0951] The plasmid is digested with the corresponding restrictionenzymes and optionally, can be dephosphorylated using calf intestinalphosphatase, using routine procedures known in the art. The DNA is thenisolated from a 1% agarose gel using a commercially available kit(“Geneclean” BIO 101 Inc., La Jolla, Calif.).

[0952] The fragment and the dephosphorylated plasmid are ligatedtogether with T4 DNA ligase. E. coli HB101 or other suitable E. colihosts such as XL-1 Blue (Stratagene Cloning Systems, La Jolla, Calif.)cells are transformed with the ligation mixture and spread on cultureplates. Bacteria containing the plasmid are identified by digesting DNAfrom individual colonies and analyzing the digestion product by gelelectrophoresis. The sequence of the cloned fragment is confirmed by DNAsequencing.

[0953] Five ug of a plasmid containing the polynucleotide isco-transfected with 1.0 ug of a commercially available linearizedbaculovirus DNA (“BaculoGold™ baculovirus DNA”, Pharmingen, San Diego,Calif.), using the lipofection method described by Felgner et al., Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:7413-7417 (1987). One ug of BaculoGold™ virusDNA and 5 ug of the plasmid are mixed in a sterile well of a microtiterplate containing 50 ul of serum-free Grace's medium (Life TechnologiesInc., Gaithersburg, Md.). Afterwards, 10 ul Lipofectin plus 90 ulGrace's medium are added, mixed and incubated for 15 minutes at roomtemperature. Then the transfection mixture is added drop-wise to Sf9insect cells (ATCC CRL 1711) seeded in a 35 mm tissue culture plate with1 ml Grace's medium without serum. The plate is then incubated for 5hours at 27 degrees C. The transfection solution is then removed fromthe plate and 1 ml of Grace's insect medium supplemented with 10% fetalcalf serum is added. Cultivation is then continued at 27 degrees C. forfour days.

[0954] After four days the supernatant is collected and a plaque assayis performed, as described by Summers and Smith, supra. An agarose gelwith “Blue Gal” (Life Technologies Inc., Gaithersburg) is used to alloweasy identification and isolation of gal-expressing clones, whichproduce blue-stained plaques. (A detailed description of a “plaqueassay” of this type can also be found in the user's guide for insectcell culture and baculovirology distributed by Life Technologies Inc.,Gaithersburg, page 9-10.) After appropriate incubation, blue stainedplaques are picked with the tip of a micropipettor (e.g., Eppendorf).The agar containing the recombinant viruses is then resuspended in amicrocentrifuge tube containing 200 ul of Grace's medium and thesuspension containing the recombinant baculovirus is used to infect Sf9cells seeded in 35 mm dishes. Four days later the supernatants of theseculture dishes are harvested and then they are stored at 4 degree C.

[0955] To verify the expression of the polypeptide, Sf9 cells are grownin Grace's medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated FBS. The cellsare infected with the recombinant baculovirus containing thepolynucleotide at a multiplicity of infection (“MOI”) of about 2. Ifradiolabeled proteins are desired, 6 hours later the medium is removedand is replaced with SF900 II medium minus methionine and cysteine(available from Life Technologies Inc., Rockville, Md.). After 42 hours,5 uCi of ³⁵S-methionine and 5 uCi ³⁵S-cysteine (available from Amersham)are added. The cells are further incubated for 16 hours and then areharvested by centrifugation. The proteins in the supernatant as well asthe intracellular proteins are analyzed by SDS-PAGE followed byautoradiography (if radiolabeled).

[0956] Microsequencing of the amino acid sequence of the amino terminusof purified protein may be used to determine the amino terminal sequenceof the produced protein.

Example 8 Expression of a Polypeptide in Mammalian Cells

[0957] The polypeptide of the present invention can be expressed in amammalian cell. A typical mammalian expression vector contains apromoter element, which mediates the initiation of transcription ofmRNA, a protein coding sequence, and signals required for thetermination of transcription and polyadenylation of the transcript.Additional elements include enhancers, Kozak sequences and interveningsequences flanked by donor and acceptor sites for RNA splicing. Highlyefficient transcription is achieved with the early and late promotersfrom SV40, the long terminal repeats (LTRs) from Retroviruses, e.g.,RSV, HTLVI, HIVI and the early promoter of the cytomegalovirus (CMV).However, cellular elements can also be used (e.g., the human actinpromoter).

[0958] Suitable expression vectors for use in practicing the presentinvention include, for example, vectors such as pSVL and pMSG(Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden), pRSVcat (ATCC 37152), pSV2dhfr (ATCC37146), pBC12MI (ATCC 67109), pCMVSport 2.0, and pCMVSport 3.0.Mammalian host cells that could be used include, human Hela, 293, H9 andJurkat cells, mouse NIH3T3 and C127 cells, Cos 1, Cos 7 and CV 1, quailQC1-3 cells, mouse L cells and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.

[0959] Alternatively, the polypeptide can be expressed in stable celllines containing the polynucleotide integrated into a chromosome. Theco-transfection with a selectable marker such as dhfr, gpt, neomycin,hygromycin allows the identification and isolation of the transfectedcells.

[0960] The transfected gene can also be amplified to express largeamounts of the encoded protein. The DHFR (dihydrofolate reductase)marker is useful in developing cell lines that carry several hundred oreven several thousand copies of the gene of interest. (See, e.g., Alt,F. W., et al., J. Biol. Chem. 253:1357-1370 (1978); Hamlin, J. L. andMa, C., Biochem. et Biophys. Acta, 1097:107-143 (1990); Page, M. J. andSydenham, M. A., Biotechnology 9:64-68 (1991).) Another useful selectionmarker is the enzyme glutamine synthase (GS) (Murphy et al., Biochem J.227:277-279 (1991); Bebbington et al., Bio/Technology 10:169-175 (1992).Using these markers, the mammalian cells are grown in selective mediumand the cells with the highest resistance are selected. These cell linescontain the amplified gene(s) integrated into a chromosome. Chinesehamster ovary (CHO) and NSO cells are often used for the production ofproteins.

[0961] Derivatives of the plasmid pSV2-dhfr (ATCC Accession No. 37146),the expression vectors pC4 (ATCC Accession No. 209646) and pC6 (ATCCAccession No.209647) contain the strong promoter (LTR) of the RousSarcoma Virus (Cullen et al., Molecular and Cellular Biology, 438-447(March, 1985)) plus a fragment of the CMV-enhancer (Boshart et al., Cell41:521-530 (1985).) Multiple cloning sites, e.g., with the restrictionenzyme cleavage sites BamHI, XbaI and Asp718, facilitate the cloning ofthe gene of interest. The vectors also contain the 3′ intron, thepolyadenylation and termination signal of the rat preproinsulin gene,and the mouse DHFR gene under control of the SV40 early promoter.

[0962] Specifically, the plasmid pC6, for example, is digested withappropriate restriction enzymes and then dephosphorylated using calfintestinal phosphates by procedures known in the art. The vector is thenisolated from a 1% agarose gel.

[0963] A polynucleotide of the present invention is amplified accordingto the protocol outlined in Example 1. If the naturally occurring signalsequence is used to produce the secreted protein, the vector does notneed a second signal peptide. Alternatively, if the naturally occurringsignal sequence is not used, the vector can be modified to include aheterologous signal sequence. (See, e.g., WO 96/34891.)

[0964] The amplified fragment is isolated from a 1% agarose gel using acommercially available kit (“Geneclean,” BIO 101 Inc., La Jolla,Calif.). The fragment then is digested with appropriate restrictionenzymes and again purified on a 1% agarose gel.

[0965] The amplified fragment is then digested with the same restrictionenzyme and purified on a 1% agarose gel. The isolated fragment and thedephosphorylated vector are then ligated with T4 DNA ligase. E. coliHB101 or XL-1 Blue cells are then transformed and bacteria areidentified that contain the fragment inserted into plasmid pC6 using,for instance, restriction enzyme analysis.

[0966] Chinese hamster ovary cells lacking an active DHFR gene is usedfor transfection. Five μg of the expression plasmid pC6 a pC4 iscotransfected with 0.5 ug of the plasmid pSVneo using lipofectin(Felgner et al., supra). The plasmid pSV2-neo contains a dominantselectable marker, the neo gene from Tn5 encoding an enzyme that confersresistance to a group of antibiotics including G418. The cells areseeded in alpha minus MEM supplemented with 1 mg/ml G418. After 2 days,the cells are trypsinized and seeded in hybridoma cloning plates(Greiner, Germany) in alpha minus MEM supplemented with 10, 25, or 50ng/ml of metothrexate plus 1 mg/ml G418. After about 10⁻¹⁴ days singleclones are trypsinized and then seeded in 6-well petri dishes or 10 mlflasks using different concentrations of methotrexate (50 nM, 100 nM,200 nM, 400 nM, 800 nM). Clones growing at the highest concentrations ofmethotrexate are then transferred to new 6-well plates containing evenhigher concentrations of methotrexate (1 uM, 2 uM, 5 uM, 10 mM, 20 mM).The same procedure is repeated until clones are obtained which grow at aconcentration of 100-200 uM. Expression of the desired gene product isanalyzed, for instance, by SDS-PAGE and Western blot or by reversedphase HPLC analysis.

Example 9 Protein Fusions

[0967] The polypeptides of the present invention are preferably fused toother proteins. These fusion proteins can be used for a variety ofapplications. For example, fusion of the present polypeptides toHis-tag, HA-tag, protein A, IgG domains, and maltose binding proteinfacilitates purification. (See Example 5; see also EP A 394,827;Traunecker, et al., Nature 331:84-86 (1988).) Similarly, fusion toIgG-1, IgG-3, and albumin increases the halflife time in vivo. Nuclearlocalization signals fused to the polypeptides of the present inventioncan target the protein to a specific subcellular localization, whilecovalent heterodimer or homodimers can increase or decrease the activityof a fusion protein. Fusion proteins can also create chimeric moleculeshaving more than one function. Finally, fusion proteins can increasesolubility and/or stability of the fused protein compared to thenon-fused protein. All of the types of fusion proteins described abovecan be made by modifying the following protocol, which outlines thefusion of a polypeptide to an IgG molecule, or the protocol described inExample 5.

[0968] Briefly, the human Fc portion of the IgG molecule can be PCRamplified, using primers that span the 5′ and 3′ ends of the sequencedescribed below. These primers also should have convenient restrictionenzyme sites that will facilitate cloning into an expression vector,preferably a mammalian expression vector.

[0969] For example, if pC4 (Accession No. 209646) is used, the human Fcportion can be ligated into the BamHI cloning site. Note that the 3′BamHI site should be destroyed. Next, the vector containing the human Fcportion is re-restricted with BamHI, linearizing the vector, and apolynucleotide of the present invention, isolated by the PCR protocoldescribed in Example 1, is ligated into this BamHI site. Note that thepolynucleotide is cloned without a stop codon, otherwise a fusionprotein will not be produced.

[0970] If the naturally occurring signal sequence is used to produce thesecreted protein, pC4 does not need a second signal peptide.Alternatively, if the naturally occurring signal sequence is not used,the vector can be modified to include a heterologous signal sequence.(See, e.g., WO 96/34891.)

[0971] Human IgG Fc region:    GGGATCCGGAGCCCAAATCTTCTGACAAAACTCACACATGCCCACC (SEQ ID NO: 1)GTGCCCAGCACCTGAATTCGAGGGTGCACCGTCAGTCTTCCTCTTCCCCCCAAAACCCAAGGACACCCTCATGATCTCCCGGACTCCTGAGGTCACATGCGTGGTGGTGGACGTAAGCCACGAAGACCCTGAGGTCAAGTTCAACTGGTACGTGGACGGCGTGGAGGTGCATAATGCCAAGACAAAGCCGCGGGAGGAGCAGTACAACAGCACGTACCGTGTGGTCAGCGTCCTCACCGTCCTGCACCAGGACTGGCTGAATGGCAAGGAGTACAAGTGCAAGGTCTCCAACAAAGCCCTCCCAACCCCCATCGAGAAAACCATCTCCAAAGCCAAAGGGCAGCCCCGAGAACCACAGGTGTACACCCTGCCCCCATCCCGGGATGAGCTGACCAAGAACCAGGTCAGCCTGACCTGCCTGGTCAAAGGCTTCTATCCAAGCGACATCGCCGTGGAGTGGGAGAGCAATGGGCAGCCGGAGAACAACTACAAGACCACGCCTCCCGTGCTGGACTCCGACGGCTCCTTCTTCCTCTACAGCAAGCTCACCGTGGACAAGAGCAGGTGGCAGCAGGGGAACGTCTTCTCATGCTCCGTGATGCATGAGGCTCTGCACAACCACTACACGCAGAAGAGCCTCTCCCTGTCTCCGGGTAAATGAGTGCGACGGCCGCGACTCTAGAGGAT

Example 10 Production of an Antibody from a Polypeptide

[0972] The antibodies of the present invention can be prepared by avariety of methods. (See, Current Protocols, Chapter 2.) As one exampleof such methods, cells expressing a polypeptide of the present inventionis administered to an animal to induce the production of sera containingpolyclonal antibodies. In a preferred method, a preparation of thesecreted protein is prepared and purified to render it substantiallyfree of natural contaminants. Such a preparation is then introduced intoan animal in order to produce polyclonal antisera of greater specificactivity.

[0973] In the most preferred method, the antibodies of the presentinvention are monoclonal antibodies (or protein binding fragmentsthereof). Such monoclonal antibodies can be prepared using hybridomatechnology. (Kohler et al., Nature 256:495 (1975); Kohler et al., Eur.J. Immunol. 6:511 (1976); Kohler et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 6:292 (1976);Hammerling et al., in: Monoclonal Antibodies and T-Cell Hybridomas,Elsevier, N.Y., pp. 563-681 (1981).) In general, such procedures involveimmunizing an animal (preferably a mouse) with polypeptide or, morepreferably, with a secreted polypeptide-expressing cell. Such cells maybe cultured in any suitable tissue culture medium; however, it ispreferable to culture cells in Earle's modified Eagle's mediumsupplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (inactivated at about 56degrees C.), and supplemented with about 10 g/l of nonessential aminoacids, about 1,000 U/ml of penicillin, and about 100 ug/ml ofstreptomycin.

[0974] The splenocytes of such mice are extracted and fused with asuitable myeloma cell line. Any suitable myeloma cell line may beemployed in accordance with the present invention; however, it ispreferable to employ the parent myeloma cell line (SP2O), available fromthe ATCC. After fusion, the resulting hybridoma cells are selectivelymaintained in HAT medium, and then cloned by limiting dilution asdescribed by Wands et al. (Gastroenterology 80:225-232 (1981).) Thehybridoma cells obtained through such a selection are then assayed toidentify clones which secrete antibodies capable of binding thepolypeptide.

[0975] Alternatively, additional antibodies capable of binding to thepolypeptide can be produced in a two-step procedure using anti-idiotypicantibodies. Such a method makes use of the fact that antibodies arethemselves antigens, and therefore, it is possible to obtain an antibodywhich binds to a second antibody. In accordance with this method,protein specific antibodies are used to immunize an animal, preferably amouse. The splenocytes of such an animal are then used to producehybridoma cells, and the hybridoma cells are screened to identify cloneswhich produce an antibody whose ability to bind to the protein-specificantibody can be blocked by the polypeptide. Such antibodies compriseanti-idiotypic antibodies to the protein-specific antibody and can beused to immunize an animal to induce formation of furtherprotein-specific antibodies.

[0976] It will be appreciated that Fab and F(ab′)2 and other fragmentsof the antibodies of the present invention may be used according to themethods disclosed herein. Such fragments are typically produced byproteolytic cleavage, using enzymes such as papain (to produce Fabfragments) or pepsin (to produce F(ab′)2 fragments). Alternatively,secreted protein-binding fragments can be produced through theapplication of recombinant DNA technology or through syntheticchemistry.

[0977] For in vivo use of antibodies in humans, it may be preferable touse “humanized” chimeric monoclonal antibodies. Such antibodies can beproduced using genetic constructs derived from hybridoma cells producingthe monoclonal antibodies described above. Methods for producingchimeric antibodies are known in the art. (See, for review, Morrison,Science 229:1202 (1985); Oi et al., BioTechniques 4:214 (1986); Cabillyet al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; Taniguchi et al., EP 171496; Morrisonet al., EP 173494; Neuberger et al., WO 8601533; Robinson et al., WO8702671; Boulianne et al., Nature 312:643 (1984); Neuberger et al.,Nature 314:268 (1985).)

Example 11 Production Of Secreted Protein For High-Throughput ScreeningAssays

[0978] The following protocol produces a supernatant containing apolypeptide to be tested. This supernatant can then be used in theScreening Assays described herein.

[0979] First, dilute Poly-D-Lysine (644 587 Boehringer-Mannheim) stocksolution (1 mg/ml in PBS) 1:20 in PBS (w/o calcium or magnesium 17-516FBiowhittaker) for a working solution of 50 ug/ml. Add 200 ul of thissolution to each well (24 well plates) and incubate at RT for 20minutes. Be sure to distribute the solution over each well (note: a12-channel pipetter may be used with tips on every other channel).Aspirate off the Poly-D-Lysine solution and rinse with 1 ml PBS(Phosphate Buffered Saline). The PBS should remain in the well untiljust prior to plating the cells and plates may be poly-lysine coated inadvance for up to two weeks.

[0980] Plate 293T cells (do not carry cells past P+20) at 2×10⁵cells/well in 0.5 ml DMEM(Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium)(with 4.5 G/Lglucose and L-glutamine (12-604F Biowhittaker))/10% heat inactivatedFBS(14-503F Biowhittaker)/1×Penstrep(17-602E Biowhittaker). Let thecells grow overnight.

[0981] The next day, mix together in a sterile solution basin: 300 ulLipofectamine (18324-012 Gibco/BRL) and 5 ml Optimem 1 (31985070Gibco/BRL)/96-well plate. With a small volume multi-channel pipetter,aliquot approximately 2 ug of an expression vector containing apolynucleotide insert, produced by the methods described in Examples 8or 9, into an appropriately labeled 96-well round bottom plate. With amulti-channel pipetter, add 50 ul of the Lipofectamine/Optimem I mixtureto each well. Pipette up and down gently to mix. Incubate at RT 15-45minutes. After about 20 minutes, use a multi-channel pipetter to add 150ul Optimem I to each well. As a control, one plate of vector DNA lackingan insert should be transfected with each set of transfections.

[0982] Preferably, the transfection should be performed by tag-teamingthe following tasks. By tag-teaming, hands on time is cut in half, andthe cells do not spend too much time on PBS. First, person A aspiratesoff the media from four 24-well plates of cells, and then person Brinses each well with 0.5-1 ml PBS. Person A then aspirates off PBSrinse, and person B, using a 12-channel pipetter with tips on everyother channel, adds the 200 ul of DNA/Lipofectamine/Optimem I complex tothe odd wells first, then to the even wells, to each row on the 24-wellplates. Incubate at 37 degrees C. for 6 hours.

[0983] While cells are incubating, prepare appropriate media, either 1%BSA in DMEM with 1×penstrep, or CHO-5 media (116.6 mg/L of CaCl₂(anhyd); 0.00130 mg/L CuSO₄-5H₂O; 0.050 mg/L of Fe(NO₃)₃-9H₂O; 0.417mg/L of FeSO₄-7H₂O; 311.80 mg/L of Kcl; 28.64 mg/L of MgCl₂; 48.84 mg/Lof MgSO₄; 6995.50 mg/L of NaCl; 2400.0 mg/L of NaHCO₃; 62.50 mg/L ofNaH₂PO₄-H₂O; 71.02 mg/L of Na₂HPO4; 4320 mg/L of ZnSO₄-7H₂₀; 0.002 mg/Lof Arachidonic Acid; 1.022 mg/L of Cholesterol; 0.070 mg/L ofDL-alpha-Tocopherol-Acetate; 0.0520 mg/L of Linoleic Acid; 0.010 mg/L ofLinolenic Acid; 0.010 mg/L of Myristic Acid; 0.010 mg/L of Oleic Acid;0.010 mg/L of Palmitric Acid; 0.010 mg/L of Palmitic Acid; 100 mg/L ofPluronic F-68; 0.010 mg/L of Stearic Acid; 2.20 mg/L of Tween 80; 4551mg/L of D-Glucose; 130.85 mg/ml of L-Alanine; 147.50 mg/ml ofL-Arginine-HCL; 7.50 mg/ml of L-Asparagine-H₂O; 6.65 mg/ml of L-AsparticAcid; 29.56 mg/ml of L-Cystine-2HCL-H₂0; 31.29 mg/ml of L-Cystine-2HCL;7.35 mg/ml of L-Glutamic Acid; 365.0 mg/ml of L-Glutamine; 18.75 mg/mlof Glycine; 52.48 mg/ml of L-Histidine-HCL-H₂0; 106.97 mg/ml ofL-Isoleucine; 111.45 mg/ml of L-Leucine; 163.75 mg/ml of L-Lysine HCL;32.34 mg/ml of L-Methionine; 68.48 mg/ml of L-Phenylalainine; 40.0 mg/mlof L-Proline; 26.25 mg/ml of L-Serine; 101.05 mg/ml of L-Threonine;19.22 mg/ml of L-Tryptophan; 91.79 mg/ml of L-Tryrosine-2Na-2H₂0; 99.65mg/ml of L-Valine; 0.0035 mg/L of Biotin; 3.24 mg/L of D-CaPantothenate; 11.78 mg/L of Choline Chloride; 4.65 mg/L of Folic Acid;15.60 mg/L of i-Inositol; 3.02 mg/L of Niacinamide; 3.00 mg/L ofPyridoxal HCL; 0.031 mg/L of Pyridoxine HCL; 0.319 mg/L of Riboflavin;3.17 mg/L of Thiamine HCL; 0.365 mg/L of Thymidine; and 0.680 mg/L ofVitamin B₁₂; 25 mM of HEPES Buffer; 2.39 mg/L of Na Hypoxanthine; 0.105mg/L of Lipoic Acid; 0.081 mg/L of Sodium Putrescine-2HCL; 55.0 mg/L ofSodium Pyruvate; 0.0067 mg/L of Sodium Selenite; 20 uM of Ethanolamine;0.122 mg/L of Ferric Citrate; 41.70 mg/L of Methyl-B-Cyclodextrincomplexed with Linoleic Acid; 33.33 mg/L of Methyl-B-Cyclodextrincomplexed with Oleic Acid; and 10 mg/L of Methyl-B-Cyclodextrincomplexed with Retinal) with 2 mm glutamine and 1×penstrep. (BSA(81-068-3 Bayer) 100 gm dissolved in 1L DMEM for a 10% BSA stocksolution). Filter the media and collect 50 ul for endotoxin assay in 15ml polystyrene conical.

[0984] The transfection reaction is terminated, preferably bytag-teaming, at the end of the incubation period. Person A aspirates offthe transfection media, while person B adds 1.5 ml appropriate media toeach well. Incubate at 37 degrees C. for 45 or 72 hours depending on themedia used: 1% BSA for 45 hours or CHO-5 for 72 hours.

[0985] On day four, using a 300 ul multichannel pipetter, aliquot 600 ulin one 1 ml deep well plate and the remaining supernatant into a 2 mldeep well. The supernatants from each well can then be used in theassays described in Examples 13-20.

[0986] It is specifically understood that when activity is obtained inany of the assays described below using a supernatant, the activityoriginates from either the polypeptide directly (e.g., as a secretedprotein) or by the polypeptide inducing expression of other proteins,which are then secreted into the supernatant. Thus, the inventionfurther provides a method of identifying the protein in the supernatantcharacterized by an activity in a particular assay.

Example 12 Construction of GAS Reporter Construct

[0987] One signal transduction pathway involved in the differentiationand proliferation of cells is called the Jaks-STATs pathway. Activatedproteins in the Jaks-STATs pathway bind to gamma activation site “GAS”elements or interferon-sensitive responsive element (“ISRE”), located inthe promoter of many genes. The binding of a protein to these elementsalter the expression of the associated gene.

[0988] GAS and ISRE elements are recognized by a class of transcriptionfactors called Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription, or“STATs.” There are six members of the STATs family. Stat1 and Stat3 arepresent in many cell types, as is Stat2 (as response to IFN-alpha iswidespread). Stat4 is more restricted and is not in many cell typesthough it has been found in T helper class I, cells after treatment withIL-12. Stat5 was originally called mammary growth factor, but has beenfound at higher concentrations in other cells including myeloid cells.It can be activated in tissue culture cells by many cytokines.

[0989] The STATs are activated to translocate from the cytoplasm to thenucleus upon tyrosine phosphorylation by a set of kinases known as theJanus Kinase (“Jaks”) family. Jaks represent a distinct family ofsoluble tyrosine kinases and include Tyk2, Jak1, Jak2, and Jak3. Thesekinases display significant sequence similarity and are generallycatalytically inactive in resting cells.

[0990] The Jaks are activated by a wide range of receptors summarized inthe Table below. (Adapted from review by Schidler and Darnell, Ann. Rev.Biochem. 64:621-51 (1995).) A cytokine receptor family, capable ofactivating Jaks, is divided into two groups: (a) Class 1 includesreceptors for IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-9, IL-11, IL-12, IL-15,Epo, PRL, GH, G-CSF, GM-CSF, LIF, CNTF, and thrombopoietin; and (b)Class 2 includes IFN-a, IFN-g, and IL-10. The Class 1 receptors share aconserved cysteine motif (a set of four conserved cysteines and onetryptophan) and a WSXWS motif (a membrane proximal region encodingTrp-Ser-Xxx-Trp-Ser (SEQ ID NO:2)).

[0991] Thus, on binding of a ligand to a receptor, Jaks are activated,which in turn activate STATs, which then translocate and bind to GASelements. This entire process is encompassed in the Jaks-STATs signaltransduction pathway.

[0992] Therefore, activation of the Jaks-STATs pathway, reflected by thebinding of the GAS or the ISRE element, can be used to indicate proteinsinvolved in the proliferation and differentiation of cells. For example,growth factors and cytokines are known to activate the Jaks-STATspathway. (See Table below.) Thus, by using GAS elements linked toreporter molecules, activators of the Jaks-STATs pathway can beidentified. JAKs Ligand tyk2 Jak1 Jak2 Jak3 STATS GAS(elements) or ISREIFN family IFN-a/B + + − − 1, 2, 3 ISRE IFN-g + + − 1 GAS (IRF1 > Lys6 >IFP) Il-10 + ? ? − 1, 3 gp130 family IL-6 (Pleiotrophic) + + + ? 1, 3GAS (IRF1 > Lys6 > IFP) Il-11(Pleiotrophic) ? + ? ? 1, 3OnM(Pleiotrophic) ? + + ? 1, 3 LIF(Pleiotrophic) ? + + ? 1, 3CNTF(Pleiotrophic) −/+ + + ? 1, 3 G-CSF(Pleiotrophic) ? + ? ? 1, 3IL-12(Pleiotrophic) + − + + 1, 3 g-C family IL-2 (lymphocytes) − + − +1, 3, 5 GAS IL-4 (lymph/myeloid) − + − + 6 GAS (IRF1 = IFP >> Ly6)(IgH)IL-7 (lymphocytes) − + − + 5 GAS IL-9 (lymphocytes) − + − + 5 GAS IL-13(lymphocyte) − + ? ? 6 GAS IL-15 ? + ? + 5 GAS gp140 family IL-3(myeloid) − − + − 5 GAS (IRF1 > IFP >> Ly6) IL-5 (myeloid) − − + − 5 GASGM-CSF (myeloid) − − + − 5 GAS Growth hormone family GH ? − + − 5 PRL ?+/− + − 1, 3, 5 EPO ? − + − 5 GAS(B-CAS > IRF1 = IFP >> Ly6) ReceptorTyrosine Kinases EGF ? + + − 1, 3 GAS (IRF1) PDGF ? + + − 1, 3 CSF-1? + + − 1, 3 GAS (not IRF1)

[0993] To construct a synthetic GAS containing promoter element, whichis used in the Biological Assays described in Examples 13-14, a PCRbased strategy is employed to generate a GAS-SV40 promoter sequence. The5′ primer contains four tandem copies of the GAS binding site found inthe IRF1 promoter and previously demonstrated to bind STATs uponinduction with a range of cytokines (Rothman et al., Immunity 1:457-468(1994).), although other GAS or ISRE elements can be used instead. The5′ primer also contains 18 bp of sequence complementary to the SV40early promoter sequence and is flanked with an XhoI site. The sequenceof the 5′ primer is: (SEQ ID NO: 3)5′:GCGCCTCGAGATTTCCCCGAAATCTAGATTTCCCCGAAATGATTTCCCCGAAATGATTTCCCCGAAATATCTGCCATCTCAATTAG:3′

[0994] The downstream primer is complementary to the SV40 promoter andis flanked with a Hind III site: 5′:GCGGCAAGCTTTTTGCAAAGCCTAGGC:3′ (SEQID NO:4)

[0995] PCR amplification is performed using the SV40 promoter templatepresent in the B-gal:promoter plasmid obtained from Clontech. Theresulting PCR fragment is digested with XhoI/Hind III and subcloned intoBLSK2-. (Stratagene.) Sequencing with forward and reverse primersconfirms that the insert contains the following sequence: (SEQ ID NO: 5)5′:CTCGAGATTTCCCCGAAATCTAGATTTCCCCGAAATGATTTCCCCGAAATGATTTCCCCGAAATATCTGCCATCTCAATTAGTCAGCAACCATAGTCCCGCCCCTAACTCCGCCCATCCCGCCCCTAACTCCGCCCAGTTCCGCCCATTCTCCGCCCCATGGCTGACTAATTTTTTTTATTTATGCAGAGGCCGAGGCCGCCTCGGCCTCTGAGCTATTCCAGAAGTAGTGAGGAGGCTTTTTTGGAGGCCTAGGCTTTTGCAAAAAGCTT:3′

[0996] With this GAS promoter element linked to the SV40 promoter, aGAS:SEAP2 reporter construct is next engineered. Here, the reportermolecule is a secreted alkaline phosphatase, or “SEAP.” Clearly,however, any reporter molecule can be instead of SEAP, in this or in anyof the other Examples. Well known reporter molecules that can be usedinstead of SEAP include chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT),luciferase, alkaline phosphatase, B-galactosidase, green fluorescentprotein (GFP), or any protein detectable by an antibody.

[0997] The above sequence confirmed synthetic GAS-SV40 promoter elementis subcloned into the pSEAP-Promoter vector obtained from Clontech usingHindIII and XhoI, effectively replacing the SV40 promoter with theamplified GAS:SV40 promoter element, to create the GAS-SEAP vector.However, this vector does not contain a neomycin resistance gene, andtherefore, is not preferred for mammalian expression systems.

[0998] Thus, in order to generate mammalian stable cell lines expressingthe GAS-SEAP reporter, the GAS-SEAP cassette is removed from theGAS-SEAP vector using SalI and NotI, and inserted into a backbone vectorcontaining the neomycin resistance gene, such as pGFP-1 (Clontech),using these restriction sites in the multiple cloning site, to createthe GAS-SEAP/Neo vector. Once this vector is transfected into mammaliancells, this vector can then be used as a reporter molecule for GASbinding as described in Examples 13-14.

[0999] Other constructs can be made using the above description andreplacing GAS with a different promoter sequence. For example,construction of reporter molecules containing NFK-B and EGR promotersequences are described in Examples 15 and 16. However, many otherpromoters can be substituted using the protocols described in theseExamples. For instance, SRE, IL-2, NFAT, or Osteocalcin promoters can besubstituted, alone or in combination (e.g., GAS/NF-KB/EGR, GAS/NF-KB,Il-2/NFAT, or NF-KB/GAS). Similarly, other cell lines can be used totest reporter construct activity, such as HELA (epithelial), HUVEC(endothelial), Reh (B-cell), Saos-2 (osteoblast), HUAC (aortic), orCardiomyocyte.

Example 13 High-Throughput Screening Assay for T-cell Activity

[1000] The following protocol is used to assess T-cell activity byidentifying factors, and determining whether supernate containing apolypeptide of the invention proliferates and/or differentiates T-cells.T-cell activity is assessed using the GAS/SEAP/Neo construct produced inExample 12. Thus, factors that increase SEAP activity indicate theability to activate the Jaks-STATS signal transduction pathway. TheT-cell used in this assay is Jurkat T-cells (ATCC Accession No.TIB-152), although Molt-3 cells (ATCC Accession No. CRL-1552) and Molt-4cells (ATCC Accession No. CRL-1582) cells can also be used.

[1001] Jurkat T-cells are lymphoblastic CD4+ Th1 helper cells. In orderto generate stable cell lines, approximately 2 million Jurkat cells aretransfected with the GAS-SEAP/neo vector using DMRIE-C (LifeTechnologies)(transfection procedure described below). The transfectedcells are seeded to a density of approximately 20,000 cells per well andtransfectants resistant to 1 mg/ml genticin selected. Resistant coloniesare expanded and then tested for their response to increasingconcentrations of interferon gamma. The dose response of a selectedclone is demonstrated.

[1002] Specifically, the following protocol will yield sufficient cellsfor 75 wells containing 200 ul of cells. Thus, it is either scaled up,or performed in multiple to generate sufficient cells for multiple 96well plates. Jurkat cells are maintained in RPMI+10% serum with 1%Pen-Strep. Combine 2.5 mls of OPTI-MEM (Life Technologies) with 10 ug ofplasmid DNA in a T25 flask. Add 2.5 ml OPTI-MEM containing 50 ul ofDMRIE-C and incubate at room temperature for 15-45 mins.

[1003] During the incubation period, count cell concentration, spin downthe required number of cells (10⁷ per transfection), and resuspend inOPTI-MEM to a final concentration of 10⁷ cells/ml. Then add 1 ml of1×10⁷ cells in OPTI-MEM to T25 flask and incubate at 37 degrees C. for 6hrs. After the incubation, add 10 ml of RPMI+15% serum.

[1004] The Jurkat:GAS-SEAP stable reporter lines are maintained inRPMI+10% serum, 1 mg/ml Genticin, and 1% Pen-Strep. These cells aretreated with supernatants containing polypeptides of the inventionand/or induced polypeptides of the invention as produced by the protocoldescribed in Example 11.

[1005] On the day of treatment with the supernatant, the cells should bewashed and resuspended in fresh RPMI+10% serum to a density of 500,000cells per ml. The exact number of cells required will depend on thenumber of supernatants being screened. For one 96 well plate,approximately 10 million cells (for 10 plates, 100 million cells) arerequired.

[1006] Transfer the cells to a triangular reservoir boat, in order todispense the cells into a 96 well dish, using a 12 channel pipette.Using a 12 channel pipette, transfer 200 ul of cells into each well(therefore adding 100,000 cells per well).

[1007] After all the plates have been seeded, 50 ul of the supernatantsare transferred directly from the 96 well plate containing thesupernatants into each well using a 12 channel pipette. In addition, adose of exogenous interferon gamma (0.1, 1.0, 10 ng) is added to wellsH9, H10, and H11 to serve as additional positive controls for the assay.

[1008] The 96 well dishes containing Jurkat cells treated withsupernatants are placed in an incubator for 48 hrs (note: this time isvariable between 48-72 hrs). 35 ul samples from each well are thentransferred to an opaque 96 well plate using a 12 channel pipette. Theopaque plates should be covered (using sellophene covers) and stored at−20 degrees C. until SEAP assays are performed according to Example 17.The plates containing the remaining treated cells are placed at 4degrees C. and serve as a source of material for repeating the assay ona specific well if desired.

[1009] As a positive control, 100 Unit/ml interferon gamma can be usedwhich is known to activate Jurkat T cells. Over 30 fold induction istypically observed in the positive control wells.

[1010] The above protocol may be used in the generation of bothtransient, as well as, stable transfected cells, which would be apparentto those of skill in the art.

Example 14 High-Throughput Screening Assay Identifying Myeloid Activity

[1011] The following protocol is used to assess myeloid activity bydetermining whether polypeptides of the invention proliferates and/ordifferentiates myeloid cells. Myeloid cell activity is assessed usingthe GAS/SEAP/Neo construct produced in Example 12. Thus, factors thatincrease SEAP activity indicate the ability to activate the Jaks-STATSsignal transduction pathway. The myeloid cell used in this assay isU937, a pre-monocyte cell line, although TF-1, HL60, or KG1 can be used.

[1012] To transiently transfect U937 cells with the GAS/SEAP/Neoconstruct produced in Example 12, a DEAE-Dextran method (Kharbanda et.al., 1994, Cell Growth & Differentiation, 5:259-265) is used. First,harvest 2×10e⁷ U937 cells and wash with PBS. The U937 cells are usuallygrown in RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovineserum (FBS) supplemented with 100 units/ml penicillin and 100 mg/mlstreptomycin.

[1013] Next, suspend the cells in 1 ml of 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.4) buffercontaining 0.5 mg/ml DEAE-Dextran, 8 ug GAS-SEAP2 plasmid DNA, 140 mMNaCl, 5 mM KCl, 375 uM Na₂HPO₄.7H₂₀, 1 mM MgCl₂, and 675 uM CaCl₂.Incubate at 37 degrees C. for 45 min.

[1014] Wash the cells with RPMI 1640 medium containing 10% FBS and thenresuspend in 10 ml complete medium and incubate at 37 degrees C. for 36hr.

[1015] The GAS-SEAP/U937 stable cells are obtained by growing the cellsin 400 ug/ml G418. The G418-free medium is used for routine growth butevery one to two months, the cells should be re-grown in 400 ug/ml G418for couple of passages.

[1016] These cells are tested by harvesting 1×10⁸ cells (this is enoughfor ten 96-well plates assay) and wash with PBS. Suspend the cells in200 ml above described growth medium, with a final density of 5×10⁵cells/ml. Plate 200 ul cells per well in the 96-well plate (or 1×10⁵cells/well).

[1017] Add 50 ul of the supernatant prepared by the protocol describedin Example 11. Incubate at 37 degrees C. for 48 to 72 hr. As a positivecontrol, 100 Unit/ml interferon gamma can be used which is known toactivate U937 cells. Over 30 fold induction is typically observed in thepositive control wells. SEAP assay the supernatant according to theprotocol described in Example 17.

Example 15 High-Throughput Screening Assay Identifying NeuronalActivity.

[1018] When cells undergo differentiation and proliferation, a group ofgenes are activated through many different signal transduction pathways.One of these genes, EGR1 (early growth response gene 1), is induced invarious tissues and cell types upon activation. The promoter of EGR1 isresponsible for such induction. Using the EGR1 promoter linked toreporter molecules, activation of cells can be assessed.

[1019] Particularly, the following protocol is used to assess neuronalactivity in PC12 cell lines. PC12 cells (rat phenochromocytoma cells)are known to proliferate and/or differentiate by activation with anumber of mitogens, such as TPA (tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate), NGF(nerve growth factor), and EGF (epidermal growth factor). The EGR1 geneexpression is activated during this treatment. Thus, by stablytransfecting PC12 cells with a construct containing an EGR promoterlinked to SEAP reporter, activation of PC12 cells can be assessed.

[1020] The EGR/SEAP reporter construct can be assembled by the followingprotocol. The EGR-1 promoter sequence (−633 to +1)(Sakamoto K et al.,Oncogene 6:867-871 (1991)) can be PCR amplified from human genomic DNAusing the following primers: 5′GCGCTCGAGGGATGACAGCGATAGAACCCCGG-3′ (SEQID NO: 6) 5′GCGAAGCTTCGCGACTCCCCGGATCCGCCTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 7)

[1021] Using the GAS:SEAP/Neo vector produced in Example 12, EGR1amplified product can then be inserted into this vector. Linearize theGAS:SEAP/Neo vector using restriction enzymes XhoI/HindIII, removing theGAS/SV40 stuffer. Restrict the EGR1 amplified product with these sameenzymes. Ligate the vector and the EGR1 promoter.

[1022] To prepare 96 well-plates for cell culture, two mls of a coatingsolution (1:30 dilution of collagen type I (Upstate Biotech Inc.Cat#08-115) in 30% ethanol (filter sterilized)) is added per one 10 cmplate or 50 ml per well of the 96-well plate, and allowed to air dry for2 hr.

[1023] PC12 cells are routinely grown in RPMI-1640 medium (BioWhittaker) containing 10% horse serum (JRH BIOSCIENCES, Cat. #12449-78P), 5% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS) supplementedwith 100 units/ml penicillin and 100 ug/ml streptomycin on a precoated10 cm tissue culture dish. One to four split is done every three to fourdays. Cells are removed from the plates by scraping and resuspended withpipetting up and down for more than 15 times.

[1024] Transfect the EGR/SEAP/Neo construct into PC12 using theLipofectamine protocol described in Example 11. EGR-SEAP/PC12 stablecells are obtained by growing the cells in 300 ug/ml G418. The G418-freemedium is used for routine growth but every one to two months, the cellsshould be re-grown in 300 ug/ml G418 for couple of passages.

[1025] To assay for neuronal activity, a 10 cm plate with cells around70 to 80% confluent is screened by removing the old medium. Wash thecells once with PBS (Phosphate buffered saline). Then starve the cellsin low serum medium (RPMI-1640 containing 1% horse serum and 0.5% FBSwith antibiotics) overnight.

[1026] The next morning, remove the medium and wash the cells with PBS.Scrape off the cells from the plate, suspend the cells well in 2 ml lowserum medium. Count the cell number and add more low serum medium toreach final cell density as 5×10⁵ cells/ml.

[1027] Add 200 ul of the cell suspension to each well of 96-well plate(equivalent to 1×10⁵ cells/well). Add 50 ul supernatant produced byExample 11, 37° C. for 48 to 72 hr. As a positive control, a growthfactor known to activate PC 12 cells through EGR can be used, such as 50ng/ul of Neuronal Growth Factor (NGF). Over fifty-fold induction of SEAPis typically seen in the positive control wells. SEAP assay thesupernatant according to Example 17.

Example 16 High-Throughput Screening Assay for T-cell Activity

[1028] NF-KB (Nuclear Factor KB) is a transcription factor activated bya wide variety of agents including the inflammatory cytokines IL-1 andTNF, CD30 and CD40, lymphotoxin-alpha and lymphotoxin-beta, by exposureto LPS or thrombin, and by expression of certain viral gene products. Asa transcription factor, NF-KB regulates the expression of genes involvedin immune cell activation, control of apoptosis (NF-KB appears to shieldcells from apoptosis), B and T-cell development, anti-viral andantimicrobial responses, and multiple stress responses.

[1029] In non-stimulated conditions, NF- KB is retained in the cytoplasmwith I-KB (Inhibitor KB). However, upon stimulation, I-KB isphosphorylated and degraded, causing NF-KB to shuttle to the nucleus,thereby activating transcription of target genes. Target genes activatedby NF-KB include IL-2, IL-6, GM-CSF, ICAM-1 and class 1 MHC.

[1030] Due to its central role and ability to respond to a range ofstimuli, reporter constructs utilizing the NF-KB promoter element areused to screen the supernatants produced in Example 11. Activators orinhibitors of NF-KB would be useful in treating diseases. For example,inhibitors of NF-KB could be used to treat those diseases related to theacute or chronic activation of NF-KB, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

[1031] To construct a vector containing the NF-KB promoter element, aPCR based strategy is employed. The upstream primer contains four tandemcopies of the NF-KB binding site (GGGGACTTTCCC) (SEQ ID NO:8), 18 bp ofsequence complementary to the 5′ end of the SV40 early promotersequence, and is flanked with an XhoI site:    5′:GCGGCCTCGAGGGGACTTTCCCGGGGACTTTCCGGGGACTTTCC (SEQ ID NO: 9)GGGACTTTCCATCCTGCCATCTCAATTAG:3′

[1032] The downstream primer is complementary to the 3′ end of the SV40promoter and is flanked with a Hind III site:5′:GCGGCAAGCTTTTTGCAAAGCCTAGGC:3′ (SEQ ID NO: 4)

[1033] PCR amplification is performed using the SV40 promoter templatepresent in the pB-gal:promoter plasmid obtained from Clontech. Theresulting PCR fragment is digested with XhoI and Hind III and subclonedinto BLSK2-. (Stratagene) Sequencing with the T7 and T3 primers confirmsthe insert contains the following sequence:    5′:CTCGAGGGGACTTTCCCGGGGACTTTCCGGGGACTTTCCGGGAC (SEQ ID NO: 10)TTTCCATCTGCCATCTCAATTAGTCAGCAACCATAGTCCCGCCCCTAACTCCGCCCATCCCGCCCCTAACTCCGCCCAGTTCCGCCCATTCTCCGCCCCATGGCTGACTAATTTTTTTTATTTATGCAGAGGCCGAGGCCGCCTCGGCCTCTGAGCTATTCCAGAAGTAGTGAGGAGGCTTTTTTGGAGGCCTAGGCTTTTGC AAAAAGCTT:3′

[1034] Next, replace the SV40 minimal promoter element present in thepSEAP2-promoter plasmid (Clontech) with this NF-KB/SV40 fragment usingXhoI and HindIII. However, this vector does not contain a neomycinresistance gene, and therefore, is not preferred for mammalianexpression systems.

[1035] In order to generate stable mammalian cell lines, theNF-KB/SV40/SEAP cassette is removed from the above NF-KB/SEAP vectorusing restriction enzymes SalI and NotI, and inserted into a vectorcontaining neomycin resistance. Particularly, the NF-KB/SV40/SEAPcassette was inserted into pGFP-1 (Clontech), replacing the GFP gene,after restricting pGFP-1 with SalI and NotI.

[1036] Once NF-KB/SV40/SEAP/Neo vector is created, stable Jurkat T-cellsare created and maintained according to the protocol described inExample 13. Similarly, the method for assaying supernatants with thesestable Jurkat T-cells is also described in Example 13. As a positivecontrol, exogenous TNF alpha (0.1,1, 10 ng) is added to wells H9, H10,and H11, with a 5-10 fold activation typically observed.

Example 17: Assay for SEAP Activity

[1037] As a reporter molecule for the assays described in Examples13-16, SEAP activity is assayed using the Tropix Phospho-light Kit (Cat.BP-400) according to the following general procedure. The TropixPhospho-light Kit supplies the Dilution, Assay, and Reaction Buffersused below.

[1038] Prime a dispenser with the 2.5× Dilution Buffer and dispense 15ul of 2.5×dilution buffer into Optiplates containing 35 ul of asupernatant. Seal the plates with a plastic sealer and incubate at 65degree C. for 30 min. Separate the Optiplates to avoid uneven heating.

[1039] Cool the samples to room temperature for 15 minutes. Empty thedispenser and prime with the Assay Buffer. Add 50 ml Assay Buffer andincubate at room temperature 5 min. Empty the dispenser and prime withthe Reaction Buffer (see the table below). Add 50 ul Reaction Buffer andincubate at room temperature for 20 minutes. Since the intensity of thechemiluminescent signal is time dependent, and it takes about 10 minutesto read 5 plates on luminometer, one should treat 5 plates at each timeand start the second set 10 minutes later.

[1040] Red the relative light unit in the luminometer. Set H12 as blank,and print the results. An increase in chemiluminescence indicatesreporter activity. Reaction Buffer Formulation: Rxn buffer diluent # ofplates (ml) CSPD (ml) 10 60 3 11 65 3.25 12 70 3.5 13 75 3.75 14 80 4 1585 4.25 16 90 4.5 17 95 4.75 18 100 5 19 105 5.25 20 110 5.5 21 115 5.7522 120 6 23 125 6.25 24 130 6.5 25 135 6.75 26 140 7 27 145 7.25 28 1507.5 29 155 7.75 30 160 8 31 165 8.25 32 170 8.5 33 175 8.75 34 180 9 35185 9.25 36 190 9.5 37 195 9.75 38 200 10 39 205 10.25 40 210 10.5 41215 10.75 42 220 11 43 225 11.25 44 230 11.5 45 235 11.75 46 240 12 47245 12.25 48 250 12.5 49 255 12.75 50 260 13

[1041] Example 18: High-Throughput Screening Assay Identifyig Changes inSmall Molecule Concentration and Membrane Permeability

[1042] Binding of a ligand to a receptor is known to alter intracellularlevels of small molecules, such as calcium, potassium, sodium, and pH,as well as alter membrane potential. These alterations can be measuredin an assay to identify supernatants which bind to receptors of aparticular cell. Although the following protocol describes an assay forcalcium, this protocol can easily be modified to detect changes inpotassium, sodium, pH, membrane potential, or any other small moleculewhich is detectable by a fluorescent probe.

[1043] The following assay uses Fluorometric Imaging Plate Reader(“FLIPR”) to measure changes in fluorescent molecules (Molecular Probes)that bind small molecules. Clearly, any fluorescent molecule detecting asmall molecule can be used instead of the calcium fluorescent molecule,fluo-4 (Molecular Probes, Inc.; catalog no. F-14202), used here.

[1044] For adherent cells, seed the cells at 10,000-20,000 cells/well ina Co-star black 96-well plate with clear bottom. The plate is incubatedin a CO₂ incubator for 20 hours. The adherent cells are washed two timesin Biotek washer with 200 ul of HBSS (Hank's Balanced Salt Solution)leaving 100 ul of buffer after the final wash.

[1045] A stock solution of 1 mg/ml fluo-4 is made in 10% pluronic acidDMSO. To load the cells with fluo-4, 50 ul of 12 ug/ml fluo-4 is addedto each well. The plate is incubated at 37 degrees C. in a CO₂ incubatorfor 60 min. The plate is washed four times in the Biotek washer withHBSS leaving 100 ul of buffer.

[1046] For non-adherent cells, the cells are spun down from culturemedia. Cells are re-suspended to 2-5×10⁶ cells/ml with HBSS in a 50-mlconical tube. 4 ul of 1 mg/ml fluo-4 solution in 10% pluronic acid DMSOis added to each ml of cell suspension. The tube is then placed in a 37degrees C. water bath for 30-60 min. The cells are washed twice withHBSS, resuspended to 1×10⁶ cells/ml, and dispensed into a microplate,100 ul/well. The plate is centrifuged at 1000 rpm for 5 min. The plateis then washed once in Denley CellWash with 200 ul, followed by anaspiration step to 100 ul final volume.

[1047] For a non-cell based assay, each well contains a fluorescentmolecule, such as fluo-4. The supernatant is added to the well, and achange in fluorescence is detected.

[1048] To measure the fluorescence of intracellular calcium, the FLIPRis set for the following parameters: (1) System gain is 300-800 mW; (2)Exposure time is 0.4 second; (3) Camera F/stop is F/2; (4) Excitation is488 nm; (5) Emission is 530 nm; and (6) Sample addition is 50 ul.Increased emission at 530 nm indicates an extracellular signaling eventwhich has resulted in an increase in the intracellularCa⁺⁺concentration.

Example 19 High-Throughput Screening Assay Identifying Tyrosine KinaseActivity

[1049] The Protein Tyrosine Kinases (PTK) represent a diverse group oftransmembrane and cytoplasmic kinases. Within the Receptor ProteinTyrosine Kinase RPTK) group are receptors for a range of mitogenic andmetabolic growth factors including the PDGF, FGF, EGF, NGF, HGF andInsulin receptor subfamilies. In addition there are a large family ofRPTKs for which the corresponding ligand is unknown. Ligands for RPTKsinclude mainly secreted small proteins, but also membrane-bound andextracellular matrix proteins.

[1050] Activation of RPTK by ligands involves ligand-mediated receptordimerization, resulting in transphosphorylation of the receptor subunitsand activation of the cytoplasmic tyrosine kinases. The cytoplasmictyrosine kinases include receptor associated tyrosine kinases of thesrc-family (e.g., src, yes, lck, lyn, fyn) and non-receptor linked andcytosolic protein tyrosine kinases, such as the Jak family, members ofwhich mediate signal transduction triggered by the cytokine superfamilyof receptors (e.g., the Interleukins, Interferons, GM-CSF, and Leptin).

[1051] Because of the wide range of known factors capable of stimulatingtyrosine kinase activity, the identification of novel human secretedproteins capable of activating tyrosine kinase signal transductionpathways are of interest. Therefore, the following protocol is designedto identify those novel human secreted proteins capable of activatingthe tyrosine kinase signal transduction pathways.

[1052] Seed target cells (e.g., primary keratinocytes) at a density ofapproximately 25,000 cells per well in a 96 well Loprodyne Silent ScreenPlates purchased from Nalge Nunc (Naperville, Ill.). The plates aresterilized with two 30 minute rinses with 100% ethanol, rinsed withwater and dried overnight. Some plates are coated for 2 hr with 100 mlof cell culture grade type I collagen (50 mg/ml), gelatin (2%) orpolylysine (50 mg/ml), all of which can be purchased from SigmaChemicals (St. Louis, Mo.) or 10% Matrigel purchased from BectonDickinson (Bedford, Mass.), or calf serum, rinsed with PBS and stored at4 degree C. Cell growth on these plates is assayed by seeding 5,000cells/well in growth medium and indirect quantitation of cell numberthrough use of alamarBlue as described by the manufacturer AlamarBiosciences, Inc. (Sacramento, Calif.) after 48 hr. Falcon plate covers#3071 from Becton Dickinson (Bedford, Mass.) are used to cover theLoprodyne Silent Screen Plates. Falcon Microtest III cell culture platescan also be used in some proliferation experiments.

[1053] To prepare extracts, A431 cells are seeded onto the nylonmembranes of Loprodyne plates (20,000/200 ml/well) and culturedovernight in complete medium. Cells are quiesced by incubation inserum-free basal medium for 24 hr. After 5-20 minutes treatment with EGF(60 ng/ml) or 50 ul of the supernatant produced in Example 11, themedium was removed and 100 ml of extraction buffer ((20 mM HEPES pH 7.5,0.15 M NaCl, 1% Triton X-100, 0.1% SDS, 2 mM Na3VO4, 2 mM Na4P207 and acocktail of protease inhibitors (# 1836170) obtained from BoeheringerMannheim (Indianapolis, Ind.) is added to each well and the plate isshaken on a rotating shaker for 5 minutes at 4 degrees C. The plate isthen placed in a vacuum transfer manifold and the extract filteredthrough the 0.45 mm membrane bottoms of each well using house vacuum.Extracts are collected in a 96-well catch/assay plate in the bottom ofthe vacuum manifold and immediately placed on ice. To obtain extractsclarified by centrifugation, the content of each well, after detergentsolubilization for 5 minutes, is removed and centrifuged for 15 minutesat 4 degrees C. at 16,000×g.

[1054] Test the filtered extracts for levels of tyrosine kinaseactivity. Although many methods of detecting tyrosine kinase activityare known, one method is described here.

[1055] Generally, the tyrosine kinase activity of a supernatant isevaluated by determining its ability to phosphorylate a tyrosine residueon a specific substrate (a biotinylated peptide). Biotinylated peptidesthat can be used for this purpose include PSK1 (corresponding to aminoacids 6-20 of the cell division kinase cdc2-p34) and PSK2 (correspondingto amino acids 1-17 of gastrin). Both peptides are substrates for arange of tyrosine kinases and are available from Boehringer Mannheim.

[1056] The tyrosine kinase reaction is set up by adding the followingcomponents in order. First, add 10 ul of 5 uM Biotinylated Peptide, then10 μl ATP/Mg₂₊(5 mM ATP/50 mM MgCl₂), then 10 μl of 5× Assay Buffer (40mM imidazole hydrochloride, pH7.3, 40 mM beta-glycerophosphate, 1 mMEGTA, 100 mM MgCl₂, 5 mM MnCl₂, 0.5 mg/ml BSA), then 5 ul of SodiumVanadate(1 mM), and then 5 ul of water. Mix the components gently andpreincubate the reaction mix at 30 degrees C. for 2 min. Initial thereaction by adding 10 μl of the control enzyme or the filteredsupernatant.

[1057] The tyrosine kinase assay reaction is then terminated by adding10 ul of 120 mm EDTA and place the reactions on ice.

[1058] Tyrosine kinase activity is determined by transferring 50 ulaliquot of reaction mixture to a microtiter plate (MTP) module andincubating at 37 degrees C. for 20 min. This allows the streptavadincoated 96 well plate to associate with the biotinylated peptide. Washthe MTP module with 300 ul/well of PBS four times. Next add 75 ul ofanti-phospotyrosine antibody conjugated to horse radishperoxidase(anti-P-Tyr-POD(0.5 u/ml)) to each well and incubate at 37degrees C. for one hour. Wash the well as above.

[1059] Next add 100 ul of peroxidase substrate solution (BoehringerMannheim) and incubate at room temperature for at least 5 mins (up to 30min). Measure the absorbance of the sample at 405 nm by using ELISAreader. The level of bound peroxidase activity is quantitated using anELISA reader and reflects the level of tyrosine kinase activity.

Example 20 High-Throughput Screening Assay Identifying PhosphorylationActivity

[1060] As a potential alternative and/or compliment to the assay ofprotein tyrosine kinase activity described in Example 19, an assay whichdetects activation (phosphorylation) of major intracellular signaltransduction intermediates can also be used. For example, as describedbelow one particular assay can detect tyrosine phosphorylation of theErk-1 and Erk-2 kinases. However, phosphorylation of other molecules,such as Raf, JNK, p38 MAP, Map kinase kinase (MEK), MEK kinase, Src,Muscle specific kinase (MuSK), IRAK, Tec, and Janus, as well as anyother phosphoserine, phosphotyrosine, or phosphothreonine molecule, canbe detected by substituting these molecules for Erk-1 or Erk-2 in thefollowing assay.

[1061] Specifically, assay plates are made by coating the wells of a96-well ELISA plate with 0.1 ml of protein G (1 ug/ml) for 2 hr at roomtemp, (RT). The plates are then rinsed with PBS and blocked with 3%BSA/PBS for 1 hr at RT. The protein G plates are then treated with 2commercial monoclonal antibodies (10 ng/well) against Erk-1 and Erk-2 (1hr at RT) (Santa Cruz Biotechnology). (To detect other molecules, thisstep can easily be modified by substituting a monoclonal antibodydetecting any of the above described molecules.) After 3-5 rinses withPBS, the plates are stored at 4 degrees C. until use.

[1062] A431 cells are seeded at 20,000/well in a 96-well Loprodynefilterplate and cultured overnight in growth medium. The cells are thenstarved for 48 hr in basal medium (DMEM) and then treated with EGF (6ng/well) or 50 ul of the supernatants obtained in Example 11 for 5-20minutes. The cells are then solubilized and extracts filtered directlyinto the assay plate.

[1063] After incubation with the extract for 1 hr at RT, the wells areagain rinsed. As a positive control, a commercial preparation of MAPkinase (10 ng/well) is used in place of A431 extract. Plates are thentreated with a commercial polyclonal (rabbit) antibody (lug/ml) whichspecifically recognizes the phosphorylated epitope of the Erk-1 andErk-2 kinases (1 hr at RT). This antibody is biotinylated by standardprocedures. The bound polyclonal antibody is then quantitated bysuccessive incubations with Europium-streptavidin and Europiumfluorescence enhancing reagent in the Wallac DELFIA instrument(time-resolved fluorescence). An increased fluorescent signal overbackground indicates a phosphorylation.

Example 21 Method of Determining Alterations in a Gene Corresponding toa Polynucleotide

[1064] RNA isolated from entire families or individual patientspresenting with a phenotype of interest (such as a disease) is beisolated. cDNA is then generated from these RNA samples using protocolsknown in the art. (See, Sambrook.) The cDNA is then used as a templatefor PCR, employing primers surrounding regions of interest in SEQ IDNO:X. Suggested PCR conditions consist of 35 cycles at 95 degrees C. for30 seconds; 60-120 seconds at 52-58 degrees C.; and 60-120 seconds at 70degrees C., using buffer solutions described in Sidransky et al.,Science 252:706 (1991).

[1065] PCR products are then sequenced using primers labeled at their 5′end with T4 polynucleotide kinase, employing SequiTherm Polymerase.(Epicentre Technologies). The intron-exon borders of selected exons isalso determined and genomic PCR products analyzed to confirm theresults. PCR products harboring suspected mutations is then cloned andsequenced to validate the results of the direct sequencing.

[1066] PCR products is cloned into T-tailed vectors as described inHolton et al., Nucleic Acids Research, 19:1156 (1991) and sequenced withT7 polymerase (United States Biochemical). Affected individuals areidentified by mutations not present in unaffected individuals.

[1067] Genomic rearrangements are also observed as a method ofdetermining alterations in a gene corresponding to a polynucleotide.Genomic clones isolated according to Example 2 are nick-translated withdigoxigenindeoxy-uridine 5-triphosphate (Boehringer Manheim), and FISHperformed as described in Johnson et al., Methods Cell Biol. 35:73-99(1991). Hybridization with the labeled probe is carried out using a vastexcess of human cot-1 DNA for specific hybridization to thecorresponding genomic locus.

[1068] Chromosomes are counterstained with 4,6-diamino-2-phenylidole andpropidium iodide, producing a combination of C- and R-bands. Alignedimages for precise mapping are obtained using a triple-band filter set(Chroma Technology, Brattleboro, Vt.) in combination with a cooledcharge-coupled device camera (Photometrics, Tucson, Ariz.) and variableexcitation wavelength filters. (Johnson et al., Genet. Anal. Tech.Appl., 8:75 (1991).) Image collection, analysis and chromosomalfractional length measurements are performed using the ISee GraphicalProgram System. (Inovision Corporation, Durham, N.C.) Chromosomealterations of the genomic region hybridized by the probe are identifiedas insertions, deletions, and translocations. These alterations are usedas a diagnostic marker for an associated disease.

Example 22 Method of Detecting Abnormal Levels of a Polypeptide in aBiological Sample

[1069] A polypeptide of the present invention can be detected in abiological sample, and if an increased or decreased level of thepolypeptide is detected, this polypeptide is a marker for a particularphenotype. Methods of detection are numerous, and thus, it is understoodthat one skilled in the art can modify the following assay to fit theirparticular needs.

[1070] For example, antibody-sandwich ELISAs are used to detectpolypeptides in a sample, preferably a biological sample. Wells of amicrotiter plate are coated with specific antibodies, at a finalconcentration of 0.2 to 10 ug/ml. The antibodies are either monoclonalor polyclonal and are produced by the method described in

Example 10 The wells are blocked so that non-specific binding of thepolypeptide to the well is reduced.

[1071] The coated wells are then incubated for >2 hours at RT with asample containing the polypeptide. Preferably, serial dilutions of thesample should be used to validate results. The plates are then washedthree times with deionized or distilled water to remove unboundedpolypeptide.

[1072] Next, 50 ul of specific antibody-alkaline phosphatase conjugate,at a concentration of 25-400 ng, is added and incubated for 2 hours atroom temperature. The plates are again washed three times with deionizedor distilled water to remove unbounded conjugate.

[1073] Add 75 ul of 4-methylumbelliferyl phosphate (MUP) orp-nitrophenyl phosphate (NPP) substrate solution to each well andincubate 1 hour at room temperature. Measure the reaction by amicrotiter plate reader. Prepare a standard curve, using serialdilutions of a control sample, and plot polypeptide concentration on theX-axis (log scale) and fluorescence or absorbance of the Y-axis (linearscale). Interpolate the concentration of the polypeptide in the sampleusing the standard curve.

Example 23 Formulation

[1074] The invention also provides methods of treatment and/orprevention of diseases or disorders (such as, for example, any one ormore of the diseases or disorders disclosed herein) by administration toa subject of an effective amount of a Therapeutic. By therapeutic ismeant polynucleotides or polypeptides of the invention (includingfragments and variants), agonists or antagonists thereof, and/orantibodies thereto, in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier type (e.g., a sterile carrier).

[1075] The Therapeutic will be formulated and dosed in a fashionconsistent with good medical practice, taking into account the clinicalcondition of the individual patient (especially the side effects oftreatment with the Therapeutic alone), the site of delivery, the methodof administration, the scheduling of administration, and other factorsknown to practitioners. The “effective amount” for purposes herein isthus determined by such considerations.

[1076] As a general proposition, the total pharmaceutically effectiveamount of the Therapeutic administered parenterally per dose will be inthe range of about lug/kg/day to 10 mg/kg/day of patient body weight,although, as noted above, this will be subject to therapeuticdiscretion. More preferably, this dose is at least 0.01 mg/kg/day, andmost preferably for humans between about 0.01 and 1 mg/kg/day for thehormone. If given continuously, the Therapeutic is typicallyadministered at a dose rate of about 1 ug/kg/hour to about 50ug/kg/hour, either by 1-4 injections per day or by continuoussubcutaneous infusions, for example, using a mini-pump. An intravenousbag solution may also be employed. The length of treatment needed toobserve changes and the interval following treatment for responses tooccur appears to vary depending on the desired effect.

[1077] Therapeutics can be are administered orally, rectally,parenterally, intracistemally, intravaginally, intraperitoneally,topically (as by powders, ointments, gels, drops or transdermal patch),bucally, or as an oral or nasal spray. “Pharmaceutically acceptablecarrier” refers to a non-toxic solid, semisolid or liquid filler,diluent, encapsulating material or formulation auxiliary of any. Theterm “parenteral” as used herein refers to modes of administration whichinclude intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrastemal,subcutaneous and intraarticular injection and infusion.

[1078] Therapeutics of the invention are also suitably administered bysustained-release systems. Suitable examples of sustained-releaseTherapeutics are administered orally, rectally, parenterally,intracistemally, intravaginally, intraperitoneally, topically (as bypowders, ointments, gels, drops or transdermal patch), bucally, or as anoral or nasal spray. “Pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” refers to anon-toxic solid, semisolid or liquid filler, diluent, encapsulatingmaterial or formulation auxiliary of any type. The term “parenteral” asused herein refers to modes of administration which include intravenous,intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrasternal, subcutaneous andintraarticular injection and infusion.

[1079] Therapeutics of the invention are also suitably administered bysustained-release systems. Suitable examples of sustained-releaseTherapeutics include suitable polymeric materials (such as, for example,semi-permeable polymer matrices in the form of shaped articles, e.g.,films, or mirocapsules), suitable hydrophobic materials (for example asan emulsion in an acceptable oil) or ion exchange resins, and sparinglysoluble derivatives (such as, for example, a sparingly soluble salt).

[1080] Sustained-release matrices include polylactides (U.S. Pat. No.3,773,919, EP 58,481), copolymers of L-glutamic acid andgamma-ethyl-L-glutamate (Sidman et al., Biopolymers 22:547-556 (1983)),poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (Langer et al., J. Biomed. Mater.Res. 15:167-277 (1981), and Langer, Chem. Tech. 12:98-105 (1982)),ethylene vinyl acetate (Langer et al., Id.) orpoly-D-(−)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (EP 133,988).

[1081] Sustained-release Therapeutics also include liposomally entrappedTherapeutics of the invention (see generally, Langer, Science249:1527-1533 (1990); Treat et al., in Liposomes in the Therapy ofInfectious Disease and Cancer, Lopez-Berestein and Fidler (eds.), Liss,New York, pp. 317-327 and 353-365 (1989)). Liposomes containing theTherapeutic are prepared by methods known per se: DE 3,218,121; Epsteinet al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 82:3688-3692 (1985); Hwang et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.(USA) 77:4030-4034 (1980); EP 52,322; EP 36,676;EP 88,046; EP 143,949; EP 142,641; Japanese Pat. Appl. 83-118008; U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,485,045 and 4,544,545; and EP 102,324. Ordinarily, theliposomes are of the small (about 200-800 Angstroms) unilamellar type inwhich the lipid content is greater than about 30 mol. percentcholesterol, the selected proportion being adjusted for the optimalTherapeutic.

[1082] In yet an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of theinvention are delivered by way of a pump (see Langer, supra; Sefton, CRCCrit. Ref. Biomed. Eng. 14:201 (1987); Buchwald et al., Surgery 88:507(1980); Saudek et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 321:574 (1989)).

[1083] Other controlled release systems are discussed in the review byLanger (Science 249:1527-1533 (1990)).

[1084] For parenteral administration, in one embodiment, the Therapeuticis formulated generally by mixing it at the desired degree of purity, ina unit dosage injectable form (solution, suspension, or emulsion), witha pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, i.e., one that is non-toxic torecipients at the dosages and concentrations employed and is compatiblewith other ingredients of the formulation. For example, the formulationpreferably does not include oxidizing agents and other compounds thatare known to be deleterious to the Therapeutic.

[1085] Generally, the formulations are prepared by contacting theTherapeutic uniformly and intimately with liquid carriers or finelydivided solid carriers or both. Then, if necessary, the product isshaped into the desired formulation. Preferably the carrier is aparenteral carrier, more preferably a solution that is isotonic with theblood of the recipient. Examples of such carrier vehicles include water,saline, Ringer's solution, and dextrose solution. Non-aqueous vehiclessuch as fixed oils and ethyl oleate are also useful herein, as well asliposomes.

[1086] The carrier suitably contains minor amounts of additives such assubstances that enhance isotonicity and chemical stability. Suchmaterials are non-toxic to recipients at the dosages and concentrationsemployed, and include buffers such as phosphate, citrate, succinate,acetic acid, and other organic acids or their salts; antioxidants suchas ascorbic acid; low molecular weight (less than about ten residues)polypeptides, e.g., polyarginine or tripeptides; proteins, such as serumalbumin, gelatin, or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such aspolyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids, such as glycine, glutamic acid,aspartic acid, or arginine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and othercarbohydrates including cellulose or its derivatives, glucose, manose,or dextrins; chelating agents such as EDTA; sugar alcohols such asmannitol or sorbitol; counterions such as sodium; and/or nonionicsurfactants such as polysorbates, poloxarners, or PEG.

[1087] The Therapeutic is typically formulated in such vehicles at aconcentration of about 0.1 mg/ml to 100 mg/ml, preferably 1-10 mg/ml, ata pH of about 3 to 8. It will be understood that the use of certain ofthe foregoing excipients, carriers, or stabilizers will result in theformation of polypeptide salts.

[1088] Any pharmaceutical used for therapeutic administration can besterile. Sterility is readily accomplished by filtration through sterilefiltration membranes (e.g., 0.2 micron membranes). Therapeuticsgenerally are placed into a container having a sterile access port, forexample, an intravenous solution bag or vial having a stopper pierceableby a hypodermic injection needle.

[1089] Therapeutics ordinarily will be stored in unit or multi-dosecontainers, for example, sealed ampoules or vials, as an aqueoussolution or as a lyophilized formulation for reconstitution. As anexample of a lyophilized formulation, 10-ml vials are filled with 5 mlof sterile-filtered 1% (w/v) aqueous Therapeutic solution, and theresulting mixture is lyophilized. The infusion solution is prepared byreconstituting the lyophilized Therapeutic using bacteriostaticWater-for-Injection.

[1090] The invention also provides a pharmaceutical pack or kitcomprising one or more containers filled with one or more of theingredients of the Therapeutics of the invention. Associated with suchcontainer(s) can be a notice in the form prescribed by a governmentalagency regulating the manufacture, use or sale of pharmaceuticals orbiological products, which notice reflects approval by the agency ofmanufacture, use or sale for human administration. In addition, theTherapeutics may be employed in conjunction with other therapeuticcompounds.

[1091] The Therapeutics of the invention may be administered alone or incombination with adjuvants. Adjuvants that may be administered with theTherapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, alum,alum plus deoxycholate (immunoAg), MTP-PE (Biocine Corp.), QS21(Genentech, Inc.), BCG (e.g., THERACYS®), MPL and nonviable prepartionsof Corynebacterium parvum. In a specific embodiment, Therapeutics of theinvention are administered in combination with alum. In another specificembodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are administered incombination with QS-21. Further adjuvants that may be administered withthe Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to,Monophosphoryl lipid immunomodulator, AdjuVax 100a, QS-21, QS-18,CRL1005, Aluminum salts, MF-59, and Virosomal adjuvant technology.Vaccines that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the inventioninclude, but are not limited to, vaccines directed toward protectionagainst MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), polio, varicella,tetanus/diptheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenzae B,whooping cough, pneumonia, influenza, Lyme's Disease, rotavirus,cholera, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, poliomyelitis, rabies,typhoid fever, and pertussis. Combinations may be administered eitherconcomitantly, e.g., as an admixture, separately but simultaneously orconcurrently; or sequentially. This includes presentations in which thecombined agents are administered together as a therapeutic mixture, andalso procedures in which the combined agents are administered separatelybut simultaneously, e.g., as through separate intravenous lines into thesame individual. Administration “in combination” further includes theseparate administration of one of the compounds or agents given first,followed by the second.

[1092] The Therapeutics of the invention may be administered alone or incombination with other therapeutic agents. Therapeutic agents that maybe administered in combination with the Therapeutics of the invention,include but not limited to, chemotherapeutic agents, antibiotics,steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, conventionalimmunotherapeutic agents, and/or therapeutic treatments described below.Combinations may be administered either concomitantly, e.g., as anadmixture, separately but simultaneously or concurrently; orsequentially. This includes presentations in which the combined agentsare administered together as a therapeutic mixture, and also proceduresin which the combined agents are administered separately butsimultaneously, e.g., as through separate intravenous lines into thesame individual. Administration “in combination” further includes theseparate administration of one of the compounds or agents given first,followed by the second.

[1093] In certain embodiments, Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with antiretroviral agents,nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs),non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), and/orprotease inhibitors (PIs). NRTIs that may be administered in combinationwith the Therapeutics of the invention, include, but are not limited to,RETROVIR™(zidovudine/AZT), VIDEX™ (didanosine/ddI), HIVID™(zalcitabine/ddC), ZERIT™ (stavudine/d4T), EPIVIR™ (lamivudine/3TC), andCOMBIVIR™ (zidovudine/lamivudine). NNRTIs that may be administered incombination with the Therapeutics of the invention, include, but are notlimited to, VIRAMUNE™ (nevirapine), RESCRIPTOR™ (delavirdine), andSUSTIVA™ (efavirenz). Protease inhibitors that may be administered incombination with the Therapeutics of the invention, include, but are notlimited to, CRIXIVAN™ (indinavir), NORVIR™ (ritonavir), INVISE™(saquinavir), and VIRACEP™ (nelfmavir). In a specific embodiment,antiretroviral agents, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors,non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and/or proteaseinhibitors may be used in any combination with Therapeutics of theinvention to treat AIDS and/or to prevent or treat HIV infection.

[1094] Additional NRTIs include LODENOSINE™ (F-ddA; an acid-stableadenosine NRTI; Triangle/Abbott; COVIRACIL™ (emtricitabine/FTC;structurally related to lamivudine (3TC) but with 3- to 10-fold greateractivity in vitro; Triangle/Abbott); dOTC (BCH-10652, also structurallyrelated to lamivudine but retains activity against a substantialproportion of lamivudine-resistant isolates; Biochem Pharma); Adefovir(refused approval for anti-HIV therapy by FDA; Gilead Sciences);PREVEON® (Adefovir Dipivoxil, the active prodrug of adefovir; its activeform is PMEA-pp); TENOFOVIR™ (bis-POC PMPA, a PMPA prodrug; Gilead);DAPD/DXG (active metabolite of DAPD; Triangle/Abbott); D-D4FC (relatedto 3TC, with activity against AZT/3TC-resistant virus); GW420867X (GlaxoWellcome); ZIAGEN™ (abacavir/159U89; Glaxo Wellcome Inc.); CS-87(3′azido-2′,3′-dideoxyuridine; WO 99/66936); and S-acyl-2-thioethyl(SATE)-bearing prodrug forms of β-L-FD4C and β-L-FddC (WO 98/17281).

[1095] Additional NNRTIs include COACTINON™ (Emivirine/MKC-442, potentNNRTI of the HEPT class; Triangle/Abbott); CAPRAVIRINE™ (AG-1549/S-1153,a next generation NNRTI with activity against viruses containing theK103N mutation; Agouron); PNU-142721 (has 20- to 50-fold greateractivity than its predecessor delavirdine and is active against K103Nmutants; Pharmacia & Upjohn); DPC-961 and DPC-963 (second-generationderivatives of efavirenz, designed to be active against viruses with theKi 03N mutation; DuPont); GW-420867×(has 25-fold greater activity thanHBY097 and is active against K103N mutants; Glaxo Wellcome); CALANOLIDEA (naturally occurring agent from the latex tree; active against virusescontaining either or both the Y181C and K103N mutations); and Propolis(WO 99/49830).

[1096] Additional protease inhibitors include LOPINAVIR™ (ABT378/r;Abbott Laboratories); BMS-232632 (an azapeptide; Bristol-Myres Squibb);TIPRANAVIR™ (PNU-1140690, a non-peptic dihydropyrone; Pharmacia &Upjohn); PD-178390 (a nonpeptidic dihydropyrone; Parke-Davis); BMS232632 (an azapeptide; Bristol-Myers Squibb); L-756,423 (an indinaviranalog; Merck); DMP-450 (a cyclic urea compound; Avid & DuPont); AG-1776(a peptidomimetic with in vitro activity against proteaseinhibitor-resistant viruses; Agouron); VX-175/GW-433908 (phosphateprodrug of amprenavir; Vertex & Glaxo Welcome); CGP61755 (Ciba); andAGENERASE™ (amprenavir; Glaxo Wellcome Inc.).

[1097] Additional antiretroviral agents include fusion inhibitors/gp41binders. Fusion inhibitors/gp41 binders include T-20 (a peptide fromresidues 643-678 of the HIV gp41 transmembrane protein ectodomain whichbinds to gp41 in its resting state and prevents transformation to thefusogenic state; Trimeris) and T-1249 (a second-generation fusioninhibitor; Trimeris).

[1098] Additional antiretroviral agents include fusioninhibitors/chemokine receptor antagonists. Fusion inhibitors/chemokinereceptor antagonists include CXCR4 antagonists such as AMD 3100 (abicyclam), SDF-1 and its analogs, and ALX40-4C (a cationic peptide), T22(an 18 amino acid peptide; Trimeris) and the T22 analogs T134 and T140;CCR5 antagonists such as RANTES (9-68), AOP-RANTES, NNY-RANTES, andTAK-779; and CCR5/CXCR4 antagonists such as NSC 651016 (a distamycinanalog). Also included are CCR2B, CCR3, and CCR6 antagonists. Chemokinerecpetor agonists such as RANTES, SDF-1, MIP-1 α, MIP-1β, etc., may alsoinhibit fusion.

[1099] Additional antiretroviral agents include integrase inhibitors.Integrase inhibitors include dicaffeoylquinic (DFQA) acids; L-chicoricacid (a dicaffeoyltartaric (DCTA) acid); quinalizarin (QLC) and relatedanthraquinones; ZINTEVIR™ (AR 177, an oligonucleotide that probably actsat cell surface rather than being a true integrase inhibitor; Arondex);and naphthols such as those disclosed in WO 98/50347.

[1100] Additional antiretroviral agents include hydroxyurea-likecompunds such as BCX-34 (a purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitor;Biocryst); ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors such as DIDOXM (Moleculesfor Health); inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) inhibitorssucha as VX-497 (Vertex); and mycopholic acids such as CellCept(mycophenolate mofetil; Roche).

[1101] Additional antiretroviral agents include inhibitors of viralintegrase, inhibitors of viral genome nuclear translocation such asarylene bis(methylketone) compounds; inhibitors of HIV entry such asAOP-RANTES, NNY-RANTES, RANTES-IgG fusion protein, soluble complexes ofRANTES and glycosaminoglycans (GAG), and AMD-3100; nucleocapsid zincfinger inhibitors such as dithiane compounds; targets of HIV Tat andRev; and pharmacoenhancers such as ABT-378.

[1102] Other antiretroviral therapies and adjunct therapies includecytokines and lymphokines such as MIP-1 α, MIP-1 β, SDF-1α, IL-2,PROLEUKIN™ (aldesleukin/L2-7001; Chiron), IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, and IL-13;interferons such as IFN-α2a; antagonists of TNFs, NFκB, GM-CSF, M-CSF,and IL-10; agents that modulate immune activation such as cyclosporinand prednisone; vaccines such as Remune™ (HIV Immunogen), APL 400-003(Apollon), recombinant gp120 and fragments, bivalent (B/E) recombinantenvelope glycoprotein, rgp120CM235, MN rgp120, SF-2 rgp120,gp120/soluble CD4 complex, Delta JR-FL protein, branched syntheticpeptide derived from discontinuous gp 120 C3/C4 domain, fusion-competentimmunogens, and Gag, Pol, Nef, and Tat vaccines; gene-based therapiessuch as genetic suppressor elements (GSEs; WO 98/54366), and intrakines(genetically modified CC chemokines targetted to the ER to block surfaceexpression of newly synthesized CCR5 (Yang et al., PNAS 94:11567-72(1997); Chen et al., Nat. Med 3:1110-16 (1997)); antibodies such as theanti-CXCR4 antibody 12G5, the anti-CCR5 antibodies 2D7, 5C7, PA8, PA9,PA10, PA 11, PA12, and PA14, the anti-CD4 antibodies Q4120 and RPA-T4,the anti-CCR3 antibody 7B11, the anti-gp 120 antibodies 17b, 48d,447-52D, 257-D, 268-D and 50.1, anti-Tat antibodies, anti-TNF-αantibodies, and monoclonal antibody 33A; aryl hydrocarbon (AH) receptoragonists and antagonists such as TCDD, 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl,3,3′,4,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl, and α-naphthoflavone (WO 98/30213); andantioxidants such as γ-L-glutamyl-L-cysteine ethyl ester (γ-GCE; WO99/56764).

[1103] In a further embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with an antiviral agent. Antiviral agentsthat may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include,but are not limited to, acyclovir, ribavirin, amantadine, andremantidine.

[1104] In other embodiments, Therapeutics of the invention may beadministered in combination with anti-opportunistic infection agents.Anti-opportunistic agents that may be administered in combination withthe Therapeutics of the invention, include, but are not limited to,TRIMETHOPRIM-SULFAMETHOXAZOLE™, DAPSONE™, PENTAMIDINE™, ATOVAQUONE™,ISONIAZID™, RIFAMPIN™, PYRAZINAMIDE™, ETHAMBUTOL™, RIFABUTIN™,CLARITHROMYCIN™, AZITHROMYCIN™, GANCICLOVIR™, FOSCARNET™, CIDOFOVIR™,FLUCONAZOLEM, ITRACONAZOLE™, KETOCONAZOLEM, ACYCLOVIR™, FAMCICOLVIR™,PYRIMETHAMINEM, LEUCOVORIN™, NEUPOGEN™ (filgrastim/G-CSF), and LEUKINE™(sargramostim/GM-CSF). In a specific embodiment, Therapeutics of theinvention are used in any combination withTRIMETHOPRIM-SULFAMETHOXAZOLE™, DAPSONE™, PENTAMIDINE™, and/orATOVAQUONE™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunisticPneumocystis carinii pneumonia infection. In another specificembodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used in any combinationwith ISONIAZID™, RIFAMPIN™, PYRAZINAMIDE™, and/or ETHAMBUTOL™ toprophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic Mycobacterium aviumcomplex infection. In another specific embodiment, Therapeutics of theinvention are used in any combination with RIFABUTIN™, CLARITHROMYCIN™,and/or AZITHROMYCIN™ to prophylactically treat or prevent anopportunistic Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. In another specificembodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used in any combinationwith GANCICLOVIR™, FOSCARNET™, and/or CIDOFOVIR™ to prophylacticallytreat or prevent an opportunistic cytomegalovirus infection. In anotherspecific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used in anycombination with FLUCONAZOLE™, ITRACONAZOLE™, and/or KETOCONAZOLE™ toprophylactically treat or prevent an opportunistic fungal infection. Inanother specific embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention are used inany combination with ACYCLOVIR™ and/or FAMCICOLVIR™ to prophylacticallytreat or prevent an opportunistic herpes simplex virus type I and/ortype II infection. In another specific embodiment, Therapeutics of theinvention are used in any combination with PYRIMETHAMINE™ and/orLEUCOVORIN™ to prophylactically treat or prevent an opportunisticToxoplasma gondii infection. In another specific embodiment,Therapeutics of the invention are used in any combination withLEUCOVORIN™ and/or NEUPOGEN™ to prophylactically treat or prevent anopportunistic bacterial infection.

[1105] In a further embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with an antibiotic agent. Antibiotic agentsthat may be administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include,but are not limited to, amoxicillin, beta-lactamases, aminoglycosides,beta-lactam (glycopeptide), beta-lactamases, Clindamycin,chloramphenicol, cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin,fluoroquinolones, macrolides, metronidazole, penicillins, quinolones,rapamycin, rifampin, streptomycin, sulfonamide, tetracyclines,trimethoprim, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and vancomycin.

[1106] In other embodiments, Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with immunosuppressive agents.Immunosuppressive agents that may be administered in combination withthe Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to,steroids, cyclosporine, cyclosporine analogs, cyclophosphamidemethylprednisone, prednisone, azathioprine, FK-506, 15-deoxyspergualin,and other immunosuppressive agents that act by suppressing the functionof responding T cells. Other immunosuppressive agents that may beadministered in combination with the Therapeutics of the inventioninclude, but are not limited to, prednisolone, methotrexate,thalidomide, methoxsalen, rapamycin, leflunomide, mizoribine(BREDININ™), brequinar, deoxyspergualin, and azaspirane (SKF 105685),ORTHOCLONE OKT®3 (muromonab-CD3), SANDIMMUNE™, NEORAL™, SANGDYA™(cyclosporine), PROGRAF® (FK506, tacrolimus), CELLCEPT® (mycophenolatemotefil, of which the active metabolite is mycophenolic acid), IMURAN™(azathioprine), glucocorticosteroids, adrenocortical steroids such asDELTASONE™ (prednisone) and HYDELTRASOL™ (prednisolone), FOLEX™ andMEXATE™ (methotrxate), OXSORALEN-ULTRA™ (methoxsalen) and RAPAMUNE™(sirolimus). In a specific embodiment, immunosuppressants may be used toprevent rejection of organ or bone marrow transplantation.

[1107] In an additional embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention areadministered alone or in combination with one or more intravenous immuneglobulin preparations. Intravenous immune globulin preparations that maybe administered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but notlimited to, GAMMAR™, IVEEGAM™, SANDOGLOBULIN™, GAMMAGARD S/D™, ATGAM™(antithymocyte glubulin), and GAMIMUNE™. In a specific embodiment,Therapeutics of the invention are administered in combination withintravenous immune globulin preparations in transplantation therapy(e.g., bone marrow transplant).

[1108] In certain embodiments, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered alone or in combination with an anti-inflammatory agent.Anti-inflammatory agents that may be administered with the Therapeuticsof the invention include, but are not limited to, corticosteroids (e.g.betamethasone, budesonide, cortisone, dexarnethasone, hydrocortisone,methylprednisolone, prednisolone, prednisone, and triamcinolone),nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., diclofenac, diflunisal,etodolac, fenoprofen, floctafenine, flurbiprofen, ibuprofen,indomethacin, ketoprofen, meclofenamate, mefenamic acid, meloxicam,nabumetone, naproxen, oxaprozin, phenylbutazone, piroxicam, sulindac,tenoxicam, tiaprofenic acid, and tolmetin.), as well as antihistamines,aminoarylcarboxylic acid derivatives, arylacetic acid derivatives,arylbutyric acid derivatives, arylcarboxylic acids, arylpropionic acidderivatives, pyrazoles, pyrazolones, salicylic acid derivatives,thiazinecarboxamides, e-acetamidocaproic acid, S-adenosylmethionine,3-amino-4-hydroxybutyric acid, amixetrine, bendazac, benzydamine,bucolome, difenpiramide, ditazol, emorfazone, guaiazulene, nabumetone,nimesulide, orgotein, oxaceprol, paranyline, perisoxal, pifoxime,proquazone, proxazole, and tenidap.

[1109] In an additional embodiment, the compositions of the inventionare administered alone or in combination with an anti-angiogenic agent.Anti-angiogenic agents that may be administered with the compositions ofthe invention include, but are not limited to, Angiostatin (Entremed,Rockville, Md.), Troponin-1 (Boston Life Sciences, Boston, Mass.),anti-Invasive Factor, retinoic acid and derivatives thereof, paclitaxel(Taxol), Suramin, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1, TissueInhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2, VEGI, Plasminogen ActivatorInhibitor-1, Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-2, and various forms of thelighter “d group” transition metals.

[1110] Lighter “d group” transition metals include, for example,vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten, titanium, niobium, and tantalum species.Such transition metal species may form transition metal complexes.Suitable complexes of the above-mentioned transition metal speciesinclude oxo transition metal complexes.

[1111] Representative examples of vanadium complexes include oxovanadium complexes such as vanadate and vanadyl complexes. Suitablevanadate complexes include metavanadate and orthovanadate complexes suchas, for example, ammonium metavanadate, sodium metavanadate, and sodiumorthovanadate. Suitable vanadyl complexes include, for example, vanadylacetylacetonate and vanadyl sulfate including vanadyl sulfate hydratessuch as vanadyl sulfate mono- and trihydrates.

[1112] Representative examples of tungsten and molybdenum complexes alsoinclude oxo complexes. Suitable oxo tungsten complexes include tungstateand tungsten oxide complexes. Suitable tungstate complexes includeammonium tungstate, calcium tungstate, sodium tungstate dihydrate, andtungstic acid. Suitable tungsten oxides include tungsten (IV) oxide andtungsten (VI) oxide. Suitable oxo molybdenum complexes includemolybdate, molybdenum oxide, and molybdenyl complexes. Suitablemolybdate complexes include ammonium molybdate and its hydrates, sodiummolybdate and its hydrates, and potassium molybdate and its hydrates.Suitable molybdenum oxides include molybdenum (VI) oxide, molybdenum(VI) oxide, and molybdic acid. Suitable molybdenyl complexes include,for example, molybdenyl acetylacetonate. Other suitable tungsten andmolybdenum complexes include hydroxo derivatives derived from, forexample, glycerol, tartaric acid, and sugars.

[1113] A wide variety of other anti-angiogenic factors may also beutilized within the context of the present invention. Representativeexamples include, but are not limited to, platelet factor 4; protaminesulphate; sulphated chitin derivatives (prepared from queen crabshells), (Murata et al., Cancer Res. 51:22-26, (1991)); SulphatedPolysaccharide Peptidoglycan Complex (SP-PG) (the function of thiscompound may be enhanced by the presence of steroids such as estrogen,and tamoxifen citrate); Staurosporine; modulators of matrix metabolism,including for example, proline analogs, cishydroxyproline,d,L-3,4-dehydroproline, Thiaproline, alpha,alpha-dipyridyl,aminopropionitrile fumarate; 4-propyl-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(3H)-oxazolone;Methotrexate; Mitoxantrone; Heparin; Interferons; 2 Macroglobulin-serum;ChIMP-3 (Pavloff et al., J. Bio. Chem. 267:17321-17326, (1992));Chymostatin (Tomkinson et al., Biochem J. 286:475-480, (1992));Cyclodextrin Tetradecasulfate; Eponemycin; Camptothecin; Fumagillin(Ingber et al., Nature 348:555-557, (1990)); Gold Sodium Thiomalate(“GST”; Matsubara and Ziff, J. Clin. Invest. 79:1440-1446, (1987));anticollagenase-serum; alpha2-antiplasmin (Holmes et al., J. Biol. Chem.262(4):1659-1664, (1987)); Bisantrene (National Cancer Institute);Lobenzarit disodium (N-(2)-carboxyphenyl-4-chloroanthronilic aciddisodium or “CCA”; (Takeuchi et al., Agents Actions 36:312-316, (1992));and metalloproteinase inhibitors such as BB94.

[1114] Additional anti-angiogenic factors that may also be utilizedwithin the context of the present invention include Thalidomide,(Celgene, Warren, N.J.); Angiostatic steroid; AGM-1470 (H. Brem and J.Folkman J Pediatr. Surg. 28:445-51 (1993)); an integrin alpha v beta 3antagonist (C. Storgard et al., J. Clin. Invest. 103:47-54 (1999));carboxynaminolmidazole; Carboxyamidotriazole (CAI) (National CancerInstitute, Bethesda, Md.); Conbretastatin A-4 (CA4P) (OXiGENE, Boston,Mass.); Squalamine (Magainin Pharmaceuticals, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.);TNP-470, (Tap Pharmaceuticals, Deerfield, Ill.); ZD-0101 AstraZeneca(London, UK); APRA (CT2584); Benefin, Byrostatin-1 (SC339555); CGP-41251(PKC 412); CM101; Dexrazoxane (ICRF187); DMXAA; Endostatin;Flavopridiol; Genestein; GTE; ImmTher; Iressa (ZD1839); Octreotide(Somatostatin); Panretin; Penacillamine; Photopoint; PI-88; Prinomastat(AG-3340) Purlytin; Suradista (FCE26644); Tamoxifen (Nolvadex);Tazarotene; Tetrathiomolybdate; Xeloda (Capecitabine); and5-Fluorouracil.

[1115] Anti-angiogenic agents that may be administed in combination withthe compounds of the invention may work through a variety of mechanismsincluding, but not limited to, inhibiting proteolysis of theextracellular matrix, blocking the function of endothelialcell-extracellular matrix adhesion molecules, by antagonizing thefunction of angiogenesis inducers such as growth factors, and inhibitingintegrin receptors expressed on proliferating endothelial cells.Examples of anti-angiogenic inhibitors that interfere with extracellularmatrix proteolysis and which may be administered in combination with thecompositons of the invention include, but are not lmited to, AG-3340(Agouron, La Jolla, Calif.), BAY-12-9566 (Bayer, West Haven, Conn.),BMS-275291 (Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, N.J.), CGS-27032A(Novartis, East Hanover, N.J.), Marimastat (British Biotech, Oxford,UK), and Metastat (Aetema, St-Foy, Quebec). Examples of anti-angiogenicinhibitors that act by blocking the function of endothelialcell-extracellular matrix adhesion molecules and which may beadministered in combination with the compositons of the inventioninclude, but are not limited to, EMD-121974 (Merck KcgaA Darmstadt,Germany) and Vitaxin (Ixsys, La Jolla, Calif./Medimmune, Gaithersburg,Md.). Examples of anti-angiogenic agents that act by directlyantagonizing or inhibiting angiogenesis inducers and which may beadministered in combination with the compositons of the inventioninclude, but are not lmited to, Angiozyme (Ribozyme, Boulder, Colo.),Anti-VEGF antibody (Genentech, S. San Francisco, Calif.),PTK-787/ZK-225846 (Novartis, Basel, Switzerland), SU-101 (Sugen, S. SanFrancisco, Calif.), SU-5416 (Sugen/Pharmacia Upjohn, Bridgewater, N.J.),and SU-6668 (Sugen). Other anti-angiogenic agents act to indirectlyinhibit angiogenesis. Examples of indirect inhibitors of angiogenesiswhich may be administered in combination with the compositons of theinvention include, but are not limited to, IM-862 (Cytran, Kirkland,Wash.), Interferon-alpha, IL-12 (Roche, Nutley, N.J.), and Pentosanpolysulfate (Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.).

[1116] In particular embodiments, the use of compositions of theinvention in combination with anti-angiogenic agents is contemplated forthe treatment, prevention, and/or amelioration of an autoimmune disease,such as for example, an autoimmune disease described herein.

[1117] In a particular embodiment, the use of compositions of theinvention in combination with anti-angiogenic agents is contemplated forthe treatment, prevention, and/or amelioration of arthritis. In a moreparticular embodiment, the use of compositions of the invention incombination with anti-angiogenic agents is contemplated for thetreatment, prevention, and/or amelioration of rheumatoid arthritis.

[1118] In another embodiment, the polynucleotides encoding a polypeptideof the present invention are administered in combination with anangiogenic protein, or polynucleotides encoding an angiogenic protein.Examples of angiogenic proteins that may be administered with thecompositions of the invention include, but are not limited to, acidicand basic fibroblast growth factors, VEGF-1, VEGF-2, VEGF-3, epidermalgrowth factor alpha and beta, platelet-derived endothelial cell growthfactor, platelet-derived growth factor, tumor necrosis factor alpha,hepatocyte growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, colony stimulatingfactor, macrophage colony stimulating factor, granulocyte/macrophagecolony stimulating factor, and nitric oxide synthase.

[1119] In additional embodiments, compositions of the invention areadministered in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent.Chemotherapeutic agents that may be administered with the Therapeuticsof the invention include, but are not limited to alkylating agents suchas nitrogen mustards (for example, Mechlorethamine, cyclophosphamide,Cyclophosphamide Ifosfamide, Melphalan (L-sarcolysin), andChlorambucil), ethylenimines and methylmelamines (for example,Hexamethylmelamine and Thiotepa), alkyl sulfonates (for example,Busulfan), nitrosoureas (for example, Carmustine (BCNU), Lomustine(CCNU), Semustine (methyl-CCNU), and Streptozocin (streptozotocin)),triazenes (for example, Dacarbazine (DTIC;dimethyltriazenoimidazolecarboxamide)), folic acid analogs (for example,Methotrexate (amethopterin)), pyrimidine analogs (for example,Fluorouacil (5-fluorouracil; 5-FU), Floxuridine (fluorodeoxyuridine;FudR), and Cytarabine (cytosine arabinoside)), purine analogs andrelated inhibitors (for example, Mercaptopurine (6-mercaptopurine;6-MP), Thioguanine (6-thioguanine; TG), and Pentostatin(2′-deoxycoformycin)), vinca alkaloids (for example, Vinblastine (VLB,vinblastine sulfate)) and Vincristine (vincristine sulfate)),epipodophyllotoxins (for example, Etoposide and Teniposide), antibiotics(for example, Dactinomycin (actinomycin D), Daunorubicin (daunomycin;rubidomycin), Doxorubicin, Bleomycin, Plicamycin (mithramycin), andMitomycin (mitomycin C), enzymes (for example, L-Asparaginase),biological response modifiers (for example, Interferon-alpha andinterferon-alpha-2b), platinum coordination compounds (for example,Cisplatin (cis-DDP) and Carboplatin), anthracenedione (Mitoxantrone),substituted ureas (for example, Hydroxyurea), methylhydrazinederivatives (for example, Procarbazine (N-methylhydrazine; M1H),adrenocorticosteroids (for example, Prednisone), progestins (forexample, Hydroxyprogesterone caproate, Medroxyprogesterone,Medroxyprogesterone acetate, and Megestrol acetate), estrogens (forexample, Diethylstilbestrol (DES), Diethylstilbestrol diphosphate,Estradiol, and Ethinyl estradiol), antiestrogens (for example,Tamoxifen), androgens (Testosterone proprionate, and Fluoxymesterone),antiandrogens (for example, Flutamide), gonadotropin-releasing horomoneanalogs (for example, Leuprolide), other hormones and hormone analogs(for example, methyltestosterone, estramustine, estramustine phosphatesodium, chlorotrianisene, and testolactone), and others (for example,dicarbazine, glutamic acid, and mitotane).

[1120] In one embodiment, the compositions of the invention areadministered in combination with one or more of the following drugs:infliximab (also known as Remicade™ Centocor, Inc.), Trocade (Roche,RO-32-3555), Leflunomide (also known as Arava™ from Hoechst MarionRoussel), Kineret™ (an IL-1 Receptor antagonist also known as Anakinrafrom Amgen, Inc.)

[1121] In a specific embodiment, compositions of the invention areadministered in combination with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin,vincristine, and prednisone) or combination of one or more of thecomponents of CHOP. In one embodiment, the compositions of the inventionare administered in combination with anti-CD20 antibodies, humanmonoclonal anti-CD20 antibodies. In another embodiment, the compositionsof the invention are administered in combination with anti-CD20antibodies and CHOP, or anti-CD20 antibodies and any combination of oneor more of the components of CHOP, particularly cyclophosphamide and/orprednisone. In a specific embodiment, compositions of the invention areadministered in combination with Rituximab. In a further embodiment,compositions of the invention are administered with Rituximab and CHOP,or Rituximab and any combination of one or more of the components ofCHOP, particularly cyclophosphamide and/or prednisone. In a specificembodiment, compositions of the invention are administered incombination with tositumomab. In a further embodiment, compositions ofthe invention are administered with tositumomab and CHOP, or tositumomaband any combination of one or more of the components of CHOP,particularly cyclophosphamide and/or prednisone. The anti-CD20antibodies may optionally be associated with radioisotopes, toxins orcytotoxic prodrugs.

[1122] In another specific embodiment, the compositions of the inventionare administered in combination Zevalin™. In a further embodiment,compositions of the invention are administered with Zevalin™ and CHOP,or Zevalin™ and any combination of one or more of the components ofCHOP, particularly cyclophosphamide and/or prednisone. Zevalin™ may beassociated with one or more radisotopes. Particularly preferred isotopesare ⁹⁰Y and ¹¹¹In.

[1123] In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the inventionare administered in combination with cytokines. Cytokines that may beadministered with the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are notlimited to, IL2, IL3, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL7, IL 10, IL 12, IL13, IL15,anti-CD40, CD40L, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. In another embodiment,Therapeutics of the invention may be administered with any interleukin,including, but not limited to, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4,IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IL-12, IL-13, IL-14, IL-15,IL-16, IL-17, IL-18, IL-19, IL-20, and IL-21.

[1124] In one embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with members of the TNF family. TNF,TNF-related or TNF-like molecules that may be administered with theTherapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to, solubleforms of TNF-alpha, lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-alpha, also known asTNF-beta), LT-beta (found in complex heterotrimer LT-alpha2-beta), OPGL,FasL, CD27L, CD30L, CD40L, 4-1BBL, DcR3, OX40L, TNF-gamma (InternationalPublication No. WO 96/14328), AIM-I (International Publication No. WO97/33899), endokine-alpha (International Publication No. WO 98/07880),OPG, and neutrokine-alpha (International Publication No. WO 98/18921,OX40, and nerve growth factor (NGF), and soluble forms of Fas, CD30,CD27, CD40 and 4-IBB, TR2 (International Publication No. WO 96/34095),DR3 (International Publication No. WO 97/33904), DR4 (InternationalPublication No. WO 98/32856), TR5 (International Publication No. WO98/30693), TRANK, TR9 (International Publication No. WO 98/56892), TR10(International Publication No. WO 98/54202), 312C2 (InternationalPublication No. WO 98/06842), and TR12, and soluble forms CD154, CD70,and CD153.

[1125] In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the inventionare administered in combination with angiogenic proteins. Angiogenicproteins that may be administered with the Therapeutics of the inventioninclude, but are not limited to, Glioma Derived Growth Factor (GDGF), asdisclosed in European Patent Number EP-399816; Platelet Derived GrowthFactor-A (PDGF-A), as disclosed in European Patent Number EP-682 110;Platelet Derived Growth Factor-B (PDGF-B), as disclosed in EuropeanPatent Number EP-282317; Placental Growth Factor (PlGF), as disclosed inInternational Publication Number WO 92/06194; Placental Growth Factor-2(PlGF-2), as disclosed in Hauser et al., Growth Factors, 4:259-268(1993); Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), as disclosed inInternational Publication Number WO 90/13649; Vascular EndothelialGrowth Factor-A (VEGF-A), as disclosed in European Patent NumberEP-506477; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-2 (VEGF-2), as disclosedin International Publication Number WO 96/39515; Vascular EndothelialGrowth Factor B (VEGF-3); Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B-186(VEGF-B186), as disclosed in International Publication Number WO96/26736; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-D (VEGF-D), as disclosed inInternational Publication Number WO 98/02543; Vascular EndothelialGrowth Factor-D (VEGF-D), as disclosed in International PublicationNumber WO 98/07832; and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-E (VEGF-E),as disclosed in German Patent Number DE19639601. The above mentionedreferences are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

[1126] In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the inventionare administered in combination with Fibroblast Growth Factors.Fibroblast Growth Factors that may be administered with the Therapeuticsof the invention include, but are not limited to, FGF-1, FGF-2, FGF-3,FGF-4, FGF-5, FGF-6, FGF-7, FGF-8, FGF-9, FGF-10, FGF-11, FGF-12,FGF-13, FGF-14, and FGF-15.

[1127] In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the inventionare administered in combination with hematopoietic growth factors.Hematopoietic growth factors that may be administered with theTherapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to,granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) (sargramostim,LEUKINE™, PROKINE™), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF)(filgrastim, NEUPOGEN™), macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF,CSF-1) erythropoietin (epoetin alfa, EPOGEN™, PROCR1™), stem cell factor(SCF, c-kit ligand, steel factor), megakaryocyte colony stimulatingfactor, PIXY321 (a GMCSF/IL-3 fusion protein), interleukins, especiallyany one or more of IL-1 through IL-12, interferon-gamma, orthrombopoietin.

[1128] In certain embodiments, Therapeutics of the present invention areadministered in combination with adrenergic blockers, such as, forexample, acebutolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, carteolol,labetalol, metoprolol, nadolol, oxprenolol, penbutolol, pindolol,propranolol, sotalol, and timolol.

[1129] In another embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with an antiarrhythmic drug (e.g.,adenosine, amidoarone, bretylium, digitalis, digoxin, digitoxin,diliazem, disopyramide, esmolol, flecainide, lidocaine, mexiletine,moricizine, phenyloin, procainamide, N-acetyl procainamide, propafenone,propranolol, quinidine, sotalol, tocainide, and verapamil).

[1130] In another embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with diuretic agents, such as carbonicanhydrase-inhibiting agents (e.g., acetazolamide, dichlorphenamide, andmethazolamide), osmotic diuretics (e.g., glycerin, isosorbide, mannitol,and urea), diuretics that inhibit Na⁺—K⁺-2Cl⁻ symport (e.g., furosemide,bumetamide, azosemide, piretamide, tripamide, ethacrynic acid,muzolimine, and torsemide), thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics (e.g.,bendroflumethiazide, benzthiazide, chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide,hydroflumethiazide, methyclothiazide, polythiazide, trichormethiazide,chlorthalidone, indapamide, metolazone, and quinethazone), potassiumsparing diuretics (e.g., amiloride and triamterene), andmineralcorticoid receptor antagonists (e.g., spironolactone, canrenone,and potassium canrenoate).

[1131] In one embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with treatments for endocrine and/or hormoneimbalance disorders. Treatments for endocrine and/or hormone imbalancedisorders include, but are not limited to, ¹²⁷I, radioactive isotopes ofiodine such as ¹³¹I and ¹²³I; recombinant growth hormone, such asHUMATROPE™ (recombinant somatropin); growth hormone analogs such asPROTROPIN™ (somatrem); dopamine agonists such as PARLODEL™(bromocriptine); somatostatin analogs such as SANDOSTATIN™ (octreotide);gonadotropin preparations such as PREGNYL™, A.P.L.™ and PROFASITM(chorionic gonadotropin (CG)), PERGONAL™ (menotropins), and METRODIN™(urofollitropin (uFSH)); synthetic human gonadotropin releasing hormonepreparations such as FACTREL™ and LUTREPULSE™ (gonadorelinhydrochloride); synthetic gonadotropin agonists such as LUPRON™(leuprolide acetate), SUPPRELIN™ (histrelin acetate), SYNAREL™(nafarelin acetate), and ZOLADEX™ (goserelin acetate); syntheticpreparations of thyrotropin-releasing hormone such as RELEFACT TRH™ andTHYPINONE™ (protirelin); recombinant human TSH such as THYROGEN™;synthetic preparations of the sodium salts of the natural isomers ofthyroid hormones such as L-T₄™, SYNTHROID™ and LEVOTHROID™(levothyroxine sodium), L-T₃™, CYTOMEL™ and TRIOSTAT™ (liothyroinesodium), and THYROLAR™ (liotrix); antithyroid compounds such as6-n-propylthiouracil (propylthiouracil), 1-methyl-2-mercaptoimidazoleand TAPAZOLE™ (methimazole), NEO-MERCAZOLE™ (carbimazole);beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists such as propranolol and esmolol;Ca²⁺ channel blockers; dexamethasone and iodinated radiological contrastagents such as TELEPAQUE™ (iopanoic acid) and ORAGRAFIN™ (sodiumipodate).

[1132] Additional treatments for endocrine and/or hormone imbalancedisorders include, but are not limited to, estrogens or congugatedestrogens such as ESTRACE™ (estradiol), ESTINYLM (ethinyl estradiol),PREMARINM, ESTRATAB™, ORTHO-ES™, OGEN™ and estropipate (estrone),ESTROVIS™ (quinestrol), ESTRADERM™ (estradiol), DELESTROGEN™ andVALERGEN™ (estradiol valerate), DEPO-ESTRADIOL CYPIONATE™ and ESTROJECTLA™ (estradiol cypionate); antiestrogens such as NOLVADEX™ (tamoxifen),SEROPHENE™ and CLOMID™ (clomiphene); progestins such as DURALUTIN™(hydroxyprogesterone caproate), MPA™ and DEPO-PROVERA™(medroxyprogesterone acetate), PROVERA™ and CYCRIN™ (MPA), MEGACE™(megestrol acetate), NORLUTIN™ (norethindrone), and NORLUTATE™ andAYGESTIN™ (norethindrone acetate); progesterone implants such asNORPLANT SYSTEM™ (subdermal implants of norgestrel); antiprogestins suchas RU 486™ (mifepristone); hormonal contraceptives such as ENOVID™(norethynodrel plus mestranol), PROGESTASER™ (intrauterine device thatreleases progesterone), LOESTRIN™, BREVICON™, MODICON™, GENORA™,NELONA™, NORINYL™, OVACON-35 ™ and OVACON-50™ (ethinylestradiol/norethindrone), LEVLEN™, NORDETTE™, TR1-LEVLEN™ andTRIPHASIL-21™ (ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel) LO/OVRAL™ and OVRAL™(ethinyl estradiol/norgestrel), DEMULEN™ (ethinyl estradiol/ethynodioldiacetate), NORINYL™, ORTHO-NOVUM™, NORETHIN™, GENORA™, and NELOVA™(norethindrone/mestranol), DESOGEN™ and ORTHO-CEPT™ (ethinylestradiol/desogestrel), ORTHO-CYCLEN™ and ORTHO-TRICYCLEN™ (ethinylestradiol/norgestimate), MICRONOR™ and NOR-QD™ (norethindrone), andOVRETTE™ (norgestrel).

[1133] Additional treatments for endocrine and/or hormone imbalancedisorders include, but are not limited to, testosterone esters such asmethenolone acetate and testosterone undecanoate; parenteral and oralandrogens such as TESTOJECT-50™ (testosterone), TESTEX™ (testosteronepropionate), DELATESTRYL™ (testosterone enanthate), DEPO-TESTOSTERONE™(testosterone cypionate), DANOCRINE™ (danazol), HALOTESTIN™(fluoxymesterone), ORETON METHYL™, TESTRED™ and VIRILON™(methyltestosterone), and OXANDRIN™ (oxandrolone); testosteronetransdermal systems such as TESTODERM™; androgen receptor antagonist and5-alpha-reductase inhibitors such as ANDROCUR™ (cyproterone acetate),EULEXIN™ (flutamide), and PROSCAR™ (finasteride); adrenocorticotropichormone preparations such as CORTROSYN™ (cosyntropin); adrenocorticalsteroids and their synthetic analogs such as ACLOVATE™ (alclometasonedipropionate), CYCLOCORT™ (amcinonide), BECLOVENT™ and VANCERIL™(beclomethasone dipropionate), CELESTONE™ (betamethasone), BENISONE™ andUTICORT™ (betamethasone benzoate), DIPROSONE™ (betamethasonedipropionate), CELESTONE PHOSPHATE™ (betamethasone sodium phosphate),CELESTONE SOLUSPAN™ (betamethasone sodium phosphate and acetate),BETA-VAL™ and VALISONE™ (betamethasone valerate), TEMOVATE™ (clobetasolpropionate), CLODERM™ (clocortolone pivalate), CORTEF™ and HYDROCORTONE™(cortisol (hydrocortisone)), HYDROCORTONE ACETATE™ (cortisol(hydrocortisone) acetate), LOCOID™ (cortisol (hydrocortisone) butyrate),HYDROCORTONE PHOSPHATE™ (cortisol (hydrocortisone) sodium phosphate),A-HYDROCORT™ and SOLU CORTEF™ (cortisol (hydrocortisone) sodiumsuccinate), WESTCORT™ (cortisol (hydrocortisone) valerate), CORTISONEACETATE™ (cortisone acetate), DESOWEN™ and TRIDESILON™ (desonide),TOPICORT™ (desoximetasone), DECADRON™ (dexamethasone), DECADRON LA™(dexamethasone acetate), DECADRON PHOSPHATE™ and HEXADROL PHOSPHATE™(dexamethasone sodium phosphate), FLORONE™ and MAXIFLOR™ (diflorasonediacetate), FLORINEF ACETATE™ (fludrocortisone acetate), AEROBID™ andNASALIDE™ (flunisolide), FLUONID™ and SYNALAR™ (fluocinolone acetonide),LIDEX™ (fluocinonide), FLUOR-OP™ and FML™ (fluorometholone), CORDRAN™(flurandrenolide), HALOG™ (halcinonide), HMS LIZUIFILM™ (medrysone),MEDROL™ (methylprednisolone), DEPO-MEDROL™ and MEDROL ACETATE™(methylprednisone acetate), A-METHAPRED™ and SOLUMEDROL™(methylprednisolone sodium succinate), ELOCON™ (mometasone furoate),HALDRONE™ (paramethasone acetate), DELTA-CORTEF™ (prednisolone),ECONOPRED™ (prednisolone acetate), HYDELTRASOL™ (prednisolone sodiumphosphate), HYDELTRA-T.B.A™ (prednisolone tebutate), DELTASONE™(prednisone), ARISTOCORT™ and KENACORT™ (triamcinolone), KENALOG™(triamcinolone acetonide), ARISTOCORT™ and KENACORT DIACETATE™(triamcinolone diacetate), and ARISTOSPAN™ (triamcinolone hexacetonide);inhibitors of biosynthesis and action of adrenocortical steroids such asCYTADREN™ (aminoglutethimide), NIZORAL™ (ketoconazole), MODRASTANE™(trilostane), and METOPIRONE™ (metyrapone); bovine, porcine or humaninsulin or mixtures thereof; insulin analogs; recombinant human insulinsuch as HUMULIN™ and NOVOLIN™; oral hypoglycemic agents such as ORAMIDE™and ORINASE™ (tolbutamide), DIABINESE™ (chlorpropamide), TOLAMIDE™ andTOLINASE™ (tolazamide), DYMELOR™ (acetohexamide), glibenclamide,MICRONASE™, DIBETA™ and GLYNASE™ (glyburide), GLUCOTROL™ (glipizide),and DIAMICRON™ (gliclazide), GLUCOPHAGE™ (metformin), ciglitazone,pioglitazone, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors; bovine or porcineglucagon; somatostatins such as SANDOSTATIN™ (octreotide); anddiazoxides such as PROGLYCEM™ (diazoxide).

[1134] In one embodiment, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with treatments for uterine motilitydisorders. Treatments for uterine motility disorders include, but arenot limited to, estrogen drugs such as conjugated estrogens (e.g.,PREMARIN® and ESTRATAB®), estradiols (e.g., CLIMARA® and ALORA®),estropipate, and chlorotrianisene; progestin drugs (e.g., AMEN®(medroxyprogesterone), MICRONOR® (norethidrone acetate), PROMETRIUM®progesterone, and megestrol acetate); and estrogen/progesteronecombination therapies such as, for example, conjugatedestrogens/medroxyprogesterone (e.g., PREMPRO™ and PREMPHASE®) andnorethindrone acetate/ethinyl estsradiol (e.g., FEMHRT™).

[1135] In an additional embodiment, the Therapeutics of the inventionare administered in combination with drugs effective in treating irondeficiency and hypochromic anemias, including but not limited to,ferrous sulfate (iron sulfate, FEOSOL™), ferrous fumarate (e.g.,FEOSTAT™), ferrous gluconate (e.g., FERGON™), polysaccharide-ironcomplex (e.g., NIFEREX™), iron dextran injection (e.g., INFED™), cupricsulfate, pyroxidine, riboflavin, Vitamin B₁₂, cyancobalamin injection(e.g., REDISOL™, RUBRAMIN PC™), hydroxocobalamin, folic acid (e.g.,FOLVITE™), leucovorin (folinic acid, 5-CHOH4PteGlu, citrovorum factor)or WELLCOVORIN (Calcium salt of leucovorin), transferrin or ferritin.

[1136] In certain embodiments, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with agents used to treat psychiatricdisorders. Psychiatric drugs that may be administered with theTherapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to,antipsychotic agents (e.g., chlorpromazine, chlorprothixene, clozapine,fluphenazine, haloperidol, loxapine, mesoridazine, molindone,olanzapine, perphenazine, pimozide, quetiapine, risperidone,thioridazine, thiothixene, trifluoperazine, and triflupromazine),antimanic agents (e.g., carbamazepine, divalproex sodium, lithiumcarbonate, and lithium citrate), antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline,amoxapine, bupropion, citalopram, clomipramine, desipramine, doxepin,fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, imipramine, isocarboxazid, maprotiline,mirtazapine, nefazodone, nortriptyline, paroxetine, phenelzine,protriptyline, sertraline, tranylcypromine, trazodone, trimipramine, andvenlafaxine), antianxiety agents (e.g., alprazolam, buspirone,chlordiazepoxide, clorazepate, diazepam, halazepam, lorazepam, oxazepam,and prazepam), and stimulants (e.g., d-amphetamine, methylphenidate, andpemoline).

[1137] In other embodiments, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with agents used to treat neurologicaldisorders. Neurological agents that may be administered with theTherapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to,antiepileptic agents (e.g., carbamazepine, clonazepam, ethosuximide,phenobarbital, phenyloin, primidone, valproic acid, divalproex sodium,felbamate, gabapentin, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, oxcarbazepine,tiagabine, topiramate, zonisamide, diazepam, lorazepam, and clonazepam),antiparkinsonian agents (e.g., levodopa/carbidopa, selegiline,amantidine, bromocriptine, pergolide, ropinirole, pramipexole,benztropine; biperiden; ethopropazine; procyclidine; trihexyphenidyl,tolcapone), and ALS therapeutics (e.g. riluzole).

[1138] In another embodiment, Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with vasodilating agents and/or calciumchannel blocking agents. Vasodilating agents that may be administeredwith the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited to,Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (e.g., papaverine,isoxsuprine, benazepril, captopril, cilazapril, enalapril, enalaprilat,fosinopril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril,spirapril, trandolapril, and nylidrin), and nitrates (e.g., isosorbidedinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, and nitroglycerin). Examples ofcalcium channel blocking agents that may be administered in combinationwith the Therapeutics of the invention include, but are not limited toamlodipine, bepridil, diltiazem, felodipine, flunarizine, isradipine,nicardipine, nifedipine, nimodipine, and verapamil.

[1139] In additional embodiments, the Therapeutics of the invention areadministered in combination with other therapeutic or prophylacticregimens, such as, for example, radiation therapy.

Example 24 Method of Treating Decreased Levels of the Polypeptide

[1140] The present invention relates to a method for treating anindividual in need of an increased level of a polypeptide of theinvention in the body comprising administering to such an individual acomposition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an agonistof the invention (including polypeptides of the invention). Moreover, itwill be appreciated that conditions caused by a decrease in the standardor normal expression level of a secreted protein in an individual can betreated by administering the polypeptide of the present invention,preferably in the secreted form. Thus, the invention also provides amethod of treatment of an individual in need of an increased level ofthe polypeptide comprising administering to such an individual aTherapeutic comprising an amount of the polypeptide to increase theactivity level of the polypeptide in such an individual.

[1141] For example, a patient with decreased levels of a polypeptidereceives a daily dose 0.1-100 ug/kg of the polypeptide for sixconsecutive days. Preferably, the polypeptide is in the secreted form.The exact details of the dosing scheme, based on administration andformulation, are provided in Example 23.

Example 25 Method of Treating Increased Levels of the Polypeptide

[1142] The present invention also relates to a method of treating anindividual in need of a decreased level of a polypeptide of theinvention in the body comprising administering to such an individual acomposition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of anantagonist of the invention (including polypeptides and antibodies ofthe invention).

[1143] In one example, antisense technology is used to inhibitproduction of a polypeptide of the present invention. This technology isone example of a method of decreasing levels of a polypeptide,preferably a secreted form, due to a variety of etiologies, such ascancer. For example, a patient diagnosed with abnormally increasedlevels of a polypeptide is administered intravenously antisensepolynucleotides at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 mg/kg day for 21 days.This treatment is repeated after a 7-day rest period if the treatmentwas well tolerated. The formulation of the antisense polynucleotide isprovided in Example 23.

Example 26 Method of Treatment Using Gene Therapy-Ex Vivo

[1144] One method of gene therapy transplants fibroblasts, which arecapable of expressing a polypeptide, onto a patient. Generally,fibroblasts are obtained from a subject by skin biopsy. The resultingtissue is placed in tissue-culture medium and separated into smallpieces. Small chunks of the tissue are placed on a wet surface of atissue culture flask, approximately ten pieces are placed in each flask.The flask is turned upside down, closed tight and left at roomtemperature over night. After 24 hours at room temperature, the flask isinverted and the chunks of tissue remain fixed to the bottom of theflask and fresh media (e.g., Ham's F12 media, with 10% FBS, penicillinand streptomycin) is added. The flasks are then incubated at 37 degreeC. for approximately one week.

[1145] At this time, fresh media is added and subsequently changed everyseveral days. After an additional two weeks in culture, a monolayer offibroblasts emerge. The monolayer is trypsinized and scaled into largerflasks.

[1146] pMV-7 (Kirschmeier, P. T. et al., DNA, 7:219-25 (1988)), flankedby the long terminal repeats of the Moloney murine sarcoma virus, isdigested with EcOR1 and HindIII and subsequently treated with calfintestinal phosphatase. The linear vector is fractionated on agarose geland purified, using glass beads.

[1147] The cDNA encoding a polypeptide of the present invention can beamplified using PCR primers which correspond to the 5′ and 3′ endsequences respectively as set forth in Example 1 using primers andhaving appropriate restriction sites and initiation/stop codons, ifnecessary. Preferably, the 5′ primer contains an EcOR1 site and the 3′primer includes a HindIII site. Equal quantities of the Moloney murinesarcoma virus linear backbone and the amplified EcOR1 and HindIIIfragment are added together, in the presence of T4 DNA ligase. Theresulting mixture is maintained under conditions appropriate forligation of the two fragments. The ligation mixture is then used totransform bacteria HB 101, which are then plated onto agar containingkanamycin for the purpose of confirming that the vector has the gene ofinterest properly inserted.

[1148] The amphotropic pA317 or GP+aml2 packaging cells are grown intissue culture to confluent density in Dulbecco's Modified Eagles Medium(DMEM) with 10% calf serum (CS), penicillin and streptomycin. The MSVvector containing the gene is then added to the media and the packagingcells transduced with the vector. The packaging cells now produceinfectious viral particles containing the gene (the packaging cells arenow referred to as producer cells).

[1149] Fresh media is added to the transduced producer cells, andsubsequently, the media is harvested from a 10 cm plate of confluentproducer cells. The spent media, containing the infectious viralparticles, is filtered through a millipore filter to remove detachedproducer cells and this media is then used to infect fibroblast cells.Media is removed from a sub-confluent plate of fibroblasts and quicklyreplaced with the media from the producer cells. This media is removedand replaced with fresh media. If the titer of virus is high, thenvirtually all fibroblasts will be infected and no selection is required.If the titer is very low, then it is necessary to use a retroviralvector that has a selectable marker, such as neo or his. Once thefibroblasts have been efficiently infected, the fibroblasts are analyzedto determine whether protein is produced.

[1150] The engineered fibroblasts are then transplanted onto the host,either alone or after having been grown to confluence on cytodex 3microcarrier beads.

Example 27 Gene Therapy Using Endogenous Genes Corresponding ToPolynucleotides of the Invention

[1151] Another method of gene therapy according to the present inventioninvolves operably associating the endogenous polynucleotide sequence ofthe invention with a promoter via homologous recombination as described,for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,670, issued Jun. 24, 1997;International Publication NO: WO 96/29411, published Sep. 26, 1996;International Publication NO: WO 94/12650, published Aug. 4, 1994;Koller et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 86:8932-8935 (1989); andZijlstra et al., Nature, 342:435-438 (1989). This method involves theactivation of a gene which is present in the target cells, but which isnot expressed in the cells, or is expressed at a lower level thandesired.

[1152] Polynucleotide constructs are made which contain a promoter andtargeting sequences, which are homologous to the 5′ non-coding sequenceof endogenous polynucleotide sequence, flanking the promoter. Thetargeting sequence will be sufficiently near the 5′ end of thepolynucleotide sequence so the promoter will be operably linked to theendogenous sequence upon homologous recombination. The promoter and thetargeting sequences can be amplified using PCR. Preferably, theamplified promoter contains distinct restriction enzyme sites on the 5′and 3′ ends. Preferably, the 3′ end of the first targeting sequencecontains the same restriction enzyme site as the 5′ end of the amplifiedpromoter and the 5′ end of the second targeting sequence contains thesame restriction site as the 3′ end of the amplified promoter.

[1153] The amplified promoter and the amplified targeting sequences aredigested with the appropriate restriction enzymes and subsequentlytreated with calf intestinal phosphatase. The digested promoter anddigested targeting sequences are added together in the presence of T4DNA ligase. The resulting mixture is maintained under conditionsappropriate for ligation of the two fragments. The construct is sizefractionated on an agarose gel then purified by phenol extraction andethanol precipitation.

[1154] In this Example, the polynucleotide constructs are administeredas naked polynucleotides via electroporation. However, thepolynucleotide constructs may also be administered withtransfection-facilitating agents, such as liposomes, viral sequences,viral particles, precipitating agents, etc. Such methods of delivery areknown in the art.

[1155] Once the cells are transfected, homologous recombination willtake place which results in the promoter being operably linked to theendogenous polynucleotide sequence. This results in the expression ofpolynucleotide corresponding to the polynucleotide in the cell.Expression may be detected by immunological staining, or any othermethod known in the art.

[1156] Fibroblasts are obtained from a subject by skin biopsy. Theresulting tissue is placed in DMEM+10% fetal calf serum. Exponentiallygrowing or early stationary phase fibroblasts are trypsinized and rinsedfrom the plastic surface with nutrient medium. An aliquot of the cellsuspension is removed for counting, and the remaining cells aresubjected to centrifugation. The supernatant is aspirated and the pelletis resuspended in 5 ml of electroporation buffer (20 mM HEPES pH 7.3,137 mM NaCl, 5 mM KCl, 0.7 mM Na₂ HPO₄, 6 mM dextrose). The cells arerecentrifuged, the supernatant aspirated, and the cells resuspended inelectroporation buffer containing 1 mg/ml acetylated bovine serumalbumin. The final cell suspension contains approximately 3×10⁶cells/ml. Electroporation should be performed immediately followingresuspension.

[1157] Plasmid DNA is prepared according to standard techniques. Forexample, to construct a plasmid for targeting to the locus correspondingto the polynucleotide of the invention, plasmid pUC 18 (MBI Fermentas,Amherst, N.Y.) is digested with HindIII. The CMV promoter is amplifiedby PCR with an XbaI site on the 5′ end and a BamHI site on the 3′end.Two non-coding sequences are amplified via PCR: one non-coding sequence(fragment 1) is amplified with a HindIII site at the 5′ end and an Xbasite at the 3′end; the other non-coding sequence (fragment 2) isamplified with a BamHI site at the 5′end and a HindIII site at the3′end. The CMV promoter and the fragments (1 and 2) are digested withthe appropriate enzymes (CMV promoter-XbaI and BamHI; fragment 1-XbaI;fragment 2-BamHI) and ligated together. The resulting ligation productis digested with HindIII, and ligated with the HindIII-digested pUC 18plasmid.

[1158] Plasmid DNA is added to a sterile cuvette with a 0.4 cm electrodegap (Bio-Rad). The final DNA concentration is generally at least 120μg/ml. 0.5 ml of the cell suspension (containing approximately 1.5.X10⁶cells) is then added to the cuvette, and the cell suspension and DNAsolutions are gently mixed. Electroporation is performed with aGene-Pulser apparatus (Bio-Rad). Capacitance and voltage are set at 960μF and 250-300 V, respectively. As voltage increases, cell survivaldecreases, but the percentage of surviving cells that stably incorporatethe introduced DNA into their genome increases dramatically. Given theseparameters, a pulse time of approximately 14-20 mSec should be observed.

[1159] Electroporated cells are maintained at room temperature forapproximately 5 min, and the contents of the cuvette are then gentlyremoved with a sterile transfer pipette. The cells are added directly to10 ml of prewarmed nutrient media (DMEM with 15% calf serum) in a 10 cmdish and incubated at 37 degree C. The following day, the media isaspirated and replaced with 10 ml of fresh media and incubated for afurther 16-24 hours.

[1160] The engineered fibroblasts are then injected into the host,either alone or after having been grown to confluence on cytodex 3microcarrier beads. The fibroblasts now produce the protein product. Thefibroblasts can then be introduced into a patient as described above.

Example 28 Method of Treatment Using Gene Therapy-In Vivo

[1161] Another aspect of the present invention is using in vivo genetherapy methods to treat disorders, diseases and conditions. The genetherapy method relates to the introduction of naked nucleic acid (DNA,RNA, and antisense DNA or RNA) sequences into an animal to increase ordecrease the expression of the polypeptide. The polynucleotide of thepresent invention may be operatively linked to a promoter or any othergenetic elements necessary for the expression of the polypeptide by thetarget tissue. Such gene therapy and delivery techniques and methods areknown in the art, see, for example, WO90/11092, WO98/11779; U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,693,622, 5705151, 5580859; Tabata et al., Cardiovasc. Res.35(3):470-479 (1997); Chao et al., Pharmacol. Res. 35(6):517-522 (1997);Wolff, Neuromuscul. Disord. 7(5):314-318 (1997); Schwartz et al., GeneTher. 3(5):405-411 (1996); Tsurumi et al., Circulation 94(12):3281-3290(1996) (incorporated herein by reference).

[1162] The polynucleotide constructs may be delivered by any method thatdelivers injectable materials to the cells of an animal, such as,injection into the interstitial space of tissues (heart, muscle, skin,lung, liver, intestine and the like). The polynucleotide constructs canbe delivered in a pharmaceutically acceptable liquid or aqueous carrier.

[1163] The term “naked” polynucleotide, DNA or RNA, refers to sequencesthat are free from any delivery vehicle that acts to assist, promote, orfacilitate entry into the cell, including viral sequences, viralparticles, liposome formulations, lipofectin or precipitating agents andthe like. However, the polynucleotides of the present invention may alsobe delivered in liposome formulations (such as those taught in FeignerP. L. et al. (1995) Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 772:126-139 and Abdallah B. etal. (1995) Biol. Cell 85(1):1-7) which can be prepared by methods wellknown to those skilled in the art.

[1164] The polynucleotide vector constructs used in the gene therapymethod are preferably constructs that will not integrate into the hostgenome nor will they contain sequences that allow for replication. Anystrong promoter known to those skilled in the art can be used fordriving the expression of DNA. Unlike other gene therapies techniques,one major advantage of introducing naked nucleic acid sequences intotarget cells is the transitory nature of the polynucleotide synthesis inthe cells. Studies have shown that non-replicating DNA sequences can beintroduced into cells to provide production of the desired polypeptidefor periods of up to six months.

[1165] The polynucleotide construct can be delivered to the interstitialspace of tissues within the an animal, including of muscle, skin, brain,lung, liver, spleen, bone marrow, thymus, heart, lymph, blood, bone,cartilage, pancreas, kidney, gall bladder, stomach, intestine, testis,ovary, uterus, rectum, nervous system, eye, gland, and connectivetissue. Interstitial space of the tissues comprises the intercellularfluid, mucopolysaccharide matrix among the reticular fibers of organtissues, elastic fibers in the walls of vessels or chambers, collagenfibers of fibrous tissues, or that same matrix within connective tissueensheathing muscle cells or in the lacunae of bone. It is similarly thespace occupied by the plasma of the circulation and the lymph fluid ofthe lymphatic channels. Delivery to the interstitial space of muscletissue is preferred for the reasons discussed below. They may beconveniently delivered by injection into the tissues comprising thesecells. They are preferably delivered to and expressed in persistent,non-dividing cells which are differentiated, although delivery andexpression may be achieved in non-differentiated or less completelydifferentiated cells, such as, for example, stem cells of blood or skinfibroblasts. In vivo muscle cells are particularly competent in theirability to take up and express polynucleotides.

[1166] For the naked polynucleotide injection, an effective dosageamount of DNA or RNA will be in the range of from about 0.05 g/kg bodyweight to about 50 mg/kg body weight. Preferably the dosage will be fromabout 0.005 mg/kg to about 20 mg/kg and more preferably from about 0.05mg/kg to about 5 mg/kg. Of course, as the artisan of ordinary skill willappreciate, this dosage will vary according to the tissue site ofinjection. The appropriate and effective dosage of nucleic acid sequencecan readily be determined by those of ordinary skill in the art and maydepend on the condition being treated and the route of administration.The preferred route of administration is by the parenteral route ofinjection into the interstitial space of tissues. However, otherparenteral routes may also be used, such as, inhalation of an aerosolformulation particularly for delivery to lungs or bronchial tissues,throat or mucous membranes of the nose. In addition, nakedpolynucleotide constructs can be delivered to arteries duringangioplasty by the catheter used in the procedure.

[1167] The dose response effects of injected polynucleotide in muscle invivo is determined as follows. Suitable template DNA for production ofmRNA coding for polypeptide of the present invention is prepared inaccordance with a standard recombinant DNA methodology. The templateDNA, which may be either circular or linear, is either used as naked DNAor complexed with liposomes. The quadriceps muscles of mice are theninjected with various amounts of the template DNA.

[1168] Five to six week old female and male Balb/C mice are anesthetizedby intraperitoneal injection with 0.3 ml of 2.5% Avertin. A 1.5 cmincision is made on the anterior thigh, and the quadriceps muscle isdirectly visualized. The template DNA is injected in 0.1 ml of carrierin a 1 cc syringe through a 27 gauge needle over one minute,approximately 0.5 cm from the distal insertion site of the muscle intothe knee and about 0.2 cm deep. A suture is placed over the injectionsite for future localization, and the skin is closed with stainlesssteel clips.

[1169] After an appropriate incubation time (e.g., 7 days) muscleextracts are prepared by excising the entire quadriceps. Every fifth 15um cross-section of the individual quadriceps muscles is histochemicallystained for protein expression. A time course for protein expression maybe done in a similar fashion except that quadriceps from different miceare harvested at different times. Persistence of DNA in muscle followinginjection may be determined by Southern blot analysis after preparingtotal cellular DNA and HIRT supernatants from injected and control mice.The results of the above experimentation in mice can be use toextrapolate proper dosages and other treatment parameters in humans andother animals using naked DNA.

Example 29 Transgenic Animals

[1170] The polypeptides of the invention can also be expressed intransgenic animals. Animals of any species, including, but not limitedto, mice, rats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, pigs, micro-pigs, goats,sheep, cows and non-human primates, e.g., baboons, monkeys, andchimpanzees may be used to generate transgenic animals. In a specificembodiment, techniques described herein or otherwise known in the art,are used to express polypeptides of the invention in humans, as part ofa gene therapy protocol.

[1171] Any technique known in the art may be used to introduce thetransgene (i.e., polynucleotides of the invention) into animals toproduce the founder lines of transgenic animals. Such techniquesinclude, but are not limited to, pronuclear microinjection (Paterson etal., Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 40:691-698 (1994); Carver et al.,Biotechnology (NY) 11:1263-1270 (1993); Wright et al., Biotechnology(NY) 9:830-834 (1991); and Hoppe et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,191(1989)); retrovirus mediated gene transfer into germ lines (Van derPutten et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 82:6148-6152 (1985)),blastocysts or embryos; gene targeting in embryonic stem cells (Thompsonet al., Cell 56:313-321 (1989)); electroporation of cells or embryos(Lo, 1983, Mol Cell. Biol. 3:1803-1814 (1983)); introduction of thepolynucleotides of the invention using a gene gun (see, e.g., Ulmer etal., Science 259:1745 (1993); introducing nucleic acid constructs intoembryonic pleuripotent stem cells and transferring the stem cells backinto the blastocyst; and sperm-mediated gene transfer (Lavitrano et al.,Cell 57:717-723 (1989); etc. For a review of such techniques, seeGordon, “Transgenic Animals,” Intl. Rev. Cytol. 115:171-229 (1989),which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[1172] Any technique known in the art may be used to produce transgenicclones containing polynucleotides of the invention, for example, nucleartransfer into enucleated oocytes of nuclei from cultured embryonic,fetal, or adult cells induced to quiescence (Campell et al., Nature380:64-66 (1996); Wilmut et al., Nature 385:810-813 (1997)).

[1173] The present invention provides for transgenic animals that carrythe transgene in all their cells, as well as animals which carry thetransgene in some, but not all their cells, ie., mosaic animals orchimeric. The transgene may be integrated as a single transgene or asmultiple copies such as in concatamers, e.g., head-to-head tandems orhead-to-tail tandems. The transgene may also be selectively introducedinto and activated in a particular cell type by following, for example,the teaching of Lasko et al. (Lasko et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA89:6232-6236 (1992)). The regulatory sequences required for such acell-type specific activation will depend upon the particular cell typeof interest, and will be apparent to those of skill in the art. When itis desired that the polynucleotide transgene be integrated into thechromosomal site of the endogenous gene, gene targeting is preferred.Briefly, when such a technique is to be utilized, vectors containingsome nucleotide sequences homologous to the endogenous gene are designedfor the purpose of integrating, via homologous recombination withchromosomal sequences, into and disrupting the function of thenucleotide sequence of the endogenous gene. The transgene may also beselectively introduced into a particular cell type, thus inactivatingthe endogenous gene in only that cell type, by following, for example,the teaching of Gu et al. (Gu et al., Science 265:103-106 (1994)). Theregulatory sequences required for such a cell-type specific inactivationwill depend upon the particular cell type of interest, and will beapparent to those of skill in the art.

[1174] Once transgenic animals have been generated, the expression ofthe recombinant gene may be assayed utilizing standard techniques.Initial screening may be accomplished by Southern blot analysis or PCRtechniques to analyze animal tissues to verify that integration of thetransgene has taken place. The level of mRNA expression of the transgenein the tissues of the transgenic animals may also be assessed usingtechniques which include, but are not limited to, Northern blot analysisof tissue samples obtained from the animal, in situ hybridizationanalysis, and reverse transcriptase-PCR (rt-PCR). Samples of transgenicgene-expressing tissue may also be evaluated immunocytochemically orimmunohistochemically using antibodies specific for the transgeneproduct.

[1175] Once the founder animals are produced, they may be bred, inbred,outbred, or crossbred to produce colonies of the particular animal.Examples of such breeding strategies include, but are not limited to:outbreeding of founder animals with more than one integration site inorder to establish separate lines; inbreeding of separate lines in orderto produce compound transgenics that express the transgene at higherlevels because of the effects of additive expression of each transgene;crossing of heterozygous transgenic animals to produce animalshomozygous for a given integration site in order to both augmentexpression and eliminate the need for screening of animals by DNAanalysis; crossing of separate homozygous lines to produce compoundheterozygous or homozygous lines; and breeding to place the transgene ona distinct background that is appropriate for an experimental model ofinterest.

[1176] Transgenic animals of the invention have uses which include, butare not limited to, animal model systems useful in elaborating thebiological function of polypeptides of the present invention, studyingdiseases, disorders, and/or conditions associated with aberrantexpression, and in screening for compounds effective in amelioratingsuch diseases, disorders, and/or conditions.

Example 30 Knock-Out Animals

[1177] Endogenous gene expression can also be reduced by inactivating or“knocking out” the gene and/or its promoter using targeted homologousrecombination. (E.g., see Smithies et al., Nature 317:230-234 (1985);Thomas & Capecchi, Cell 51:503-512 (1987); Thompson et al., Cell5:313-321 (1989); each of which is incorporated by reference herein inits entirety). For example, a mutant, non-functional polynucleotide ofthe invention (or a completely unrelated DNA sequence) flanked by DNAhomologous to the endogenous polynucleotide sequence (either the codingregions or regulatory regions of the gene) can be used, with or withouta selectable marker and/or a negative selectable marker, to transfectcells that express polypeptides of the invention in vivo. In anotherembodiment, techniques known in the art are used to generate knockoutsin cells that contain, but do not express the gene of interest.Insertion of the DNA construct, via targeted homologous recombination,results in inactivation of the targeted gene. Such approaches areparticularly suited in research and agricultural fields wheremodifications to embryonic stem cells can be used to generate animaloffspring with an inactive targeted gene (e.g., see Thomas & Capecchi1987 and Thompson 1989, supra). However this approach can be routinelyadapted for use in humans provided the recombinant DNA constructs aredirectly administered or targeted to the required site in vivo usingappropriate viral vectors that will be apparent to those of skill in theart.

[1178] In further embodiments of the invention, cells that aregenetically engineered to express the polypeptides of the invention, oralternatively, that are genetically engineered not to express thepolypeptides of the invention (e.g., knockouts) are administered to apatient in vivo. Such cells may be obtained from the patient (i.e.,animal, including human) or an MHC compatible donor and can include, butare not limited to fibroblasts, bone marrow cells, blood cells (eg.,lymphocytes), adipocytes, muscle cells, endothelial cells etc. The cellsare genetically engineered in vitro using recombinant DNA techniques tointroduce the coding sequence of polypeptides of the invention into thecells, or alternatively, to disrupt the coding sequence and/orendogenous regulatory sequence associated with the polypeptides of theinvention, e.g., by transduction (using viral vectors, and preferablyvectors that integrate the transgene into the cell genome) ortransfection procedures, including, but not limited to, the use ofplasmids, cosmids, YACs, naked DNA, electroporation, liposomes, etc. Thecoding sequence of the polypeptides of the invention can be placed underthe control of a strong constitutive or inducible promoter orpromoter/enhancer to achieve expression, and preferably secretion, ofthe polypeptides of the invention. The engineered cells which expressand preferably secrete the polypeptides of the invention can beintroduced into the patient systemically, e.g., in the circulation, orintraperitoneally.

[1179] Alternatively, the cells can be incorporated into a matrix andimplanted in the body, e.g., genetically engineered fibroblasts can beimplanted as part of a skin graft; genetically engineered endothelialcells can be implanted as part of a lymphatic or vascular graft. (See,for example, Anderson et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,349; and Mulligan &Wilson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,959 each of which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety).

[1180] When the cells to be administered are non-autologous or non-MHCcompatible cells, they can be administered using well known techniqueswhich prevent the development of a host immune response against theintroduced cells. For example, the cells may be introduced in anencapsulated form which, while allowing for an exchange of componentswith the immediate extracellular environment, does not allow theintroduced cells to be recognized by the host immune system.

[1181] Transgenic and “knock-out” animals of the invention have useswhich include, but are not limited to, animal model systems useful inelaborating the biological function of polypeptides of the presentinvention, studying diseases, disorders, and/or conditions associatedwith aberrant expression, and in screening for compounds effective inameliorating such diseases, disorders, and/or conditions.

Example 31 Production of an Antibody

[1182] Hybridoma Technology

[1183] The antibodies of the present invention can be prepared by avariety of methods. (See, Current Protocols, Chapter 2.) As one exampleof such methods, cells expressing polypeptide(s) of the invention areadministered to an animal to induce the production of sera containingpolyclonal antibodies. In a preferred method, a preparation ofpolypeptide(s) of the invention is prepared and purified to render itsubstantially free of natural contaminants. Such a preparation is thenintroduced into an animal in order to produce polyclonal antisera ofgreater specific activity.

[1184] Monoclonal antibodies specific for polypeptide(s) of theinvention are prepared using hybridoma technology. (Kohler et al.,Nature 256:495 (1975); Kohler et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 6:511 (1976);Kohler et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 6:292 (1976); Hammerling et al., in:Monoclonal Antibodies and T-Cell Hybridomas, Elsevier, N.Y., pp. 563-681(1981)). In general, an animal (preferably a mouse) is immunized withpolypeptide(s) of the invention, or, more preferably, with a secretedpolypeptide-expressing cell. Such polypeptide-expressing cells arecultured in any suitable tissue culture medium, preferably in Earle'smodified Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum(inactivated at about 56° C.), and supplemented with about 10 g/l ofnonessential amino acids, about 1,000 U/ml of penicillin, and about 100μg/ml of streptomycin.

[1185] The splenocytes of such mice are extracted and fused with asuitable myeloma cell line. Any suitable myeloma cell line may beemployed in accordance with the present invention; however, it ispreferable to employ the parent myeloma cell line (SP20), available fromthe ATCC. After fusion, the resulting hybridoma cells are selectivelymaintained in HAT medium, and then cloned by limiting dilution asdescribed by Wands et al. (Gastroenterology 80:225-232 (1981)). Thehybridoma cells obtained through such a selection are then assayed toidentify clones which secrete antibodies capable of binding thepolypeptide(s) of the invention.

[1186] Alternatively, additional antibodies capable of bindingpolypeptide(s) of the invention can be produced in a two-step procedureusing anti-idiotypic antibodies. Such a method makes use of the factthat antibodies are themselves antigens, and therefore, it is possibleto obtain an antibody which binds to a second antibody. In accordancewith this method, protein specific antibodies are used to immunize ananimal, preferably a mouse. The splenocytes of such an animal are thenused to produce hybridoma cells, and the hybridoma cells are screened toidentify clones which produce an antibody whose ability to bind to thepolypeptide(s) of the invention protein-specific antibody can be blockedby polypeptide(s) of the invention. Such antibodies compriseanti-idiotypic antibodies to the polypeptide(s) of the inventionprotein-specific antibody and are used to immunize an animal to induceformation of further polypeptide(s) of the invention protein-specificantibodies.

[1187] For in vivo use of antibodies in humans, an antibody is“humanized”. Such antibodies can be produced using genetic constructsderived from hybridoma cells producing the monoclonal antibodiesdescribed above. Methods for producing chimeric and humanized antibodiesare known in the art and are discussed herein. (See, for review,Morrison, Science 229:1202 (1985); Oi et al., BioTechniques 4:214(1986); Cabilly et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567; Taniguchi et al., EP171496; Morrison et al., EP 173494; Neuberger et al., WO 8601533;Robinson et al., WO 8702671; Boulianne et al., Nature 312:643 (1984);Neuberger et al., Nature 314:268 (1985).)

[1188] Isolation Of Antibody Fragments Directed polypeptide(s) of theinvention From A Library Of scFvs

[1189] Naturally occurring V-genes isolated from human PBLs areconstructed into a library of antibody fragments which containreactivities against polypeptide(s) of the invention to which the donormay or may not have been exposed (see e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,793incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).

[1190] Rescue of the Library. A library of scFvs is constructed from theRNA of human PBLs as described in PCT publication WO 92/01047. To rescuephage displaying antibody fragments, approximately 109 E. coli harboringthe phagemid are used to inoculate 50 ml of 2×TY containing 1% glucoseand 100 μg/hnl of ampicillin (2×TY-AMP-GLU) and grown to an O.D. of 0.8with shaking. Five ml of this culture is used to innoculate 50 ml of2×TY-AMP-GLU, 2×10⁸ TU of delta gene 3 helper (M13 delta gene III, seePCT publication WO 92/01047) are added and the culture incubated at 37°C. for 45 minutes without shaking and then at 37° C. for 45 minutes withshaking. The culture is centrifuged at 4000 r.p.m. for 10 min. and thepellet resuspended in 2 liters of 2×TY containing 100 μg/ml ampicillinand 50 ug/ml kanamycin and grown overnight. Phage are prepared asdescribed in PCT publication WO 92/01047.

[1191] M13 delta gene III is prepared as follows: M13 delta gene IIIhelper phage does not encode gene III protein, hence the phage(mid)displaying antibody fragments have a greater avidity of binding toantigen. Infectious M13 delta gene III particles are made by growing thehelper phage in cells harboring a pUC 19 derivative supplying the wildtype gene III protein during phage morphogenesis. The culture isincubated for 1 hour at 37° C. without shaking and then for a furtherhour at 37° C. with shaking. Cells are spun down (IEC-Centra 8,400r.p.m. for 10 min), resuspended in 300 ml 2×TY broth containing 100 μgampicillin/ml and 25 μg kanamycin/ml (2×TY-AMP-KAN) and grown overnight,shaking at 37° C. Phage particles are purified and concentrated from theculture medium by two PEG-precipitations (Sambrook et al., 1990),resuspended in 2 ml PBS and passed through a 0.45 μm filter (MinisartNML; Sartorius) to give a final concentration of approximately 1013transducing units/ml (ampicillin-resistant clones).

[1192] Panning of the Library. Immunotubes (Nunc) are coated overnightin PBS with 4 ml of either 100 μg/ml or 10 μg/ml of a polypeptide of thepresent invention. Tubes are blocked with 2% Marvel-PBS for 2 hours at37° C. and then washed 3 times in PBS. Approximately 1013 TU of phage isapplied to the tube and incubated for 30 minutes at room temperaturetumbling on an over and under turntable and then left to stand foranother 1.5 hours. Tubes are washed 10 times with PBS 0.1% Tween-20 and10 times with PBS. Phage are eluted by adding 1 ml of 100 mMtriethylamine and rotating 15 minutes on an under and over turntableafter which the solution is immediately neutralized with 0.5 ml of 1.0MTris-HC1, pH 7.4. Phage are then used to infect 10 ml of mid-log E. coliTG1 by incubating eluted phage with bacteria for 30 minutes at 37° C.The E. coli are then plated on TYE plates containing 1% glucose and 100μg/ml ampicillin. The resulting bacterial library is then rescued withdelta gene 3 helper phage as described above to prepare phage for asubsequent round of selection. This process is then repeated for a totalof 4 rounds of affinity purification with tube-washing increased to 20times with PBS, 0.1% Tween-20 and 20 times with PBS for rounds 3 and 4.

[1193] Characterization of Binders. Eluted phage from the 3rd and 4throunds of selection are used to infect E. coli HB 2151 and soluble scFvis produced (Marks, et al., 1991) from single colonies for assay. ELISAsare performed with microtitre plates coated with either 10 pg/ml of thepolypeptide of the present invention in 50 mM bicarbonate pH 9.6. Clonespositive in ELISA are further characterized by PCR fingerprinting (see,e.g., PCT publication WO 92/01047) and then by sequencing. These ELISApositive clones may also be further characterized by techniques known inthe art, such as, for example, epitope mapping, binding affinity,receptor signal transduction, ability to block or competitively inhibitantibody/antigen binding, and competitive agonistic or antagonisticactivity.

Example 32 Assays Detecting Stimulation or Inhibition of B cellProliferation and Differentiation

[1194] Generation of functional humoral immune responses requires bothsoluble and cognate signaling between B-lineage cells and theirmicroenvironment. Signals may impart a positive stimulus that allows aB-lineage cell to continue its programmed development, or a negativestimulus that instructs the cell to arrest its current developmentalpathway. To date, numerous stimulatory and inhibitory signals have beenfound to influence B cell responsiveness including IL-2, IL-4, IL-5,IL-6, IL-7, IL10, IL-13, IL-14 and IL-15. Interestingly, these signalsare by themselves weak effectors but can, in combination with variousco-stimulatory proteins, induce activation, proliferation,differentiation, homing, tolerance and death among B cell populations.

[1195] One of the best studied classes of B-cell co-stimulatory proteinsis the TNF-superfamily. Within this family CD40, CD27, and CD30 alongwith their respective ligands CD154, CD70, and CD153 have been found toregulate a variety of immune responses. Assays which allow for thedetection and/or observation of the proliferation and differentiation ofthese B-cell populations and their precursors are valuable tools indetermining the effects various proteins may have on these B-cellpopulations in terms of proliferation and differentiation. Listed beloware two assays designed to allow for the detection of thedifferentiation, proliferation, or inhibition of B-cell populations andtheir precursors.

[1196] In Vitro Assay-Purified polypeptides of the invention, ortruncated forms thereof, is assessed for its ability to induceactivation, proliferation, differentiation or inhibition and/or death inB-cell populations and their precursors. The activity of thepolypeptides of the invention on purified human tonsillar B cells,measured qualitatively over the dose range from 0.1 to 10,000 ng/mL, isassessed in a standard B-lymphocyte co-stimulation assay in whichpurified tonsillar B cells are cultured in the presence of eitherformalin-fixed Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I (SAC) or immobilizedanti-human IgM antibody as the priming agent. Second signals such asIL-2 and IL-15 synergize with SAC and IgM crosslinking to elicit B cellproliferation as measured by tritiated-thymidine incorporation. Novelsynergizing agents can be readily identified using this assay. The assayinvolves isolating human tonsillar B cells by magnetic bead (MACS)depletion of CD3-positive cells. The resulting cell population isgreater than 95% B cells as assessed by expression of CD45R(B220).

[1197] Various dilutions of each sample are placed into individual wellsof a 96-well plate to which are added 10⁵ B-cells suspended in culturemedium (RPMI 1640 containing 10% FBS, 5×10⁻⁵M 2ME, 100 U/ml penicillin,10 ug/ml streptomycin, and 10⁻⁵ dilution of SAC) in a total volume of150 ul. Proliferation or inhibition is quantitated by a 20h pulse (1uCi/well) with 3H-thymidine (6.7 Ci/mM) beginning 72h post factoraddition. The positive and negative controls are IL2 and mediumrespectively.

[1198] In Vivo Assay-BALB/c mice are injected (i.p.) twice per day withbuffer only, or 2 mg/Kg of a polypeptide of the invention, or truncatedforms thereof. Mice receive this treatment for 4 consecutive days, atwhich time they are sacrificed and various tissues and serum collectedfor analyses. Comparison of H&E sections from normal spleens and spleenstreated with polypeptides of the invention identify the results of theactivity of the polypeptides on spleen cells, such as the diffusion ofperi-arterial lymphatic sheaths, and/or significant increases in thenucleated cellularity of the red pulp regions, which may indicate theactivation of the differentiation and proliferation of B-cellpopulations. Immunohistochemical studies using a B cell marker,anti-CD45R(B220), are used to determine whether any physiologicalchanges to splenic cells, such as splenic disorganization, are due toincreased B-cell representation within loosely defined B-cell zones thatinfiltrate established T-cell regions.

[1199] Flow cytometric analyses of the spleens from mice treated withpolypeptide is used to indicate whether the polypeptide specificallyincreases the proportion of ThB+, CD45R(B220)dull B cells over thatwhich is observed in control mice.

[1200] Likewise, a predicted consequence of increased mature B-cellrepresentation in vivo is a relative increase in serum Ig titers.Accordingly, serum IgM and IgA levels are compared between buffer andpolypeptide-treated mice.

[1201] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides of the invention (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/orantagonists of polynucleotides or polypeptides of the invention.

Example 33 T Cell Proliferation Assay

[1202] Proliferation assay for Resting PBLs.

[1203] A CD3-induced proliferation assay is performed on PBMCs and ismeasured by the uptake of ³H-thymidine. The assay is performed asfollows. Ninety-six well plates are coated with 100 microliters per wellof mAb to CD3 (HIT3a, Pharmingen) or isotype-matched control mAb(B333.1) overnight at 4° C. (1 microgram/ml in 0.05M bicarbonate buffer,pH 9.5), then washed three times with PBS. PBMC are isolated by F/Hgradient centrifugation from human peripheral blood and added toquadruplicate wells (5×10⁴/well) of mAb coated plates in RPMI containing10% FCS and P/S in the presence of varying concentrations of TNF Deltaand/or TNF Epsilon protein (total volume 200 microliters). Relevantprotein buffer and medium alone are controls. After 48 hr. culture at37° C., plates are spun for 2 min. at 1000 rpm and 100 microliters ofsupernatant is removed and stored −20° C. for measurement of IL-2 (orother cytokines) if effect on proliferation is observed. Wells aresupplemented with 100 microliters of medium containing 0.5 microcuriesof ³H-thymidine and cultured at 37° C. for 18-24 hr. Wells are harvestedand incorporation of ³H-thymidine used as a measure of proliferation.Anti-CD3 alone is the positive control for proliferation. IL-2 (100U/ml) is also used as a control which enhances proliferation. Controlantibody which does not induce proliferation of T cells is used as thenegative controls for the effects of TNF Delta and/or TNF Epsilonproteins.

[1204] Alternatively, a proliferation assay on resting PBL (peripheralblood lymphocytes) is measured by the up-take of ³H-thymidine. The assayis performed as follows. PBMC are isolated by Ficoll (LSM, ICNBiotechnologies, Aurora, Ohio) gradient centrifugation from humanperipheral blood, and are cultured overnight in 10% (Fetal Calf Serum,Biofluids, Rockville, Md.)/RPMI (Gibco BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.). Thisovernight incubation period allows the adherent cells to attach to theplastic, which results in a lower background in the assay as there arefewer cells that can act as antigen presenting cells or that might beproducing growth factors. The following day the non-adherent cells arecollected, washed and used in the proliferation assay. The assay isperformed in a 96 well plate using 2×10⁴ cells/well in a final volume of200 microliters. The supernatants (e.g., CHO or 293T supernatants)expressing the protein of interest are tested at a 30% final dilution,therefore 60 ul are added to 140 ul of 10% FCS/RPMI containing thecells. Control supernatants are used at the same final dilution andexpress the following proteins: vector (negative control), IL-2 (*),IFN□, TNF□, IL-10 and TR2. In addition to the control supernatants,recombinant human IL-2 (R & D Systems, Minneapolois, Minn.) at a finalconcentration of 100 ng/ml is also used. After 24 hours of culture, eachwell is pulsed with 1 uCi of ³H-thymidine (Nen, Boston, Mass.). Cellsare then harvested 20 hours following pulsing and incorporation of³H-thymidine is used as a measure of proliferation. Results areexpressed as an average of triplicate samples plus or minus standarderror.

[1205] (*) The amount of the control cytokines IL-2, IFN□, TNF□, andIL-10 produced in each transfection varies between 300 pg to 5 ng/ml.

[1206] Costimulation assay.

[1207] A costimulation assay on resting PBL (peripheral bloodlymphocytes) is performed in the presence of immobilized antibodies toCD3 and CD28. The use of antibodies specific for the invariant regionsof CD3 mimic the induction of T cell activation that would occur throughstimulation of the T cell receptor by an antigen. Cross-linking of theTCR (first signal) in the absence of a costimulatory signal (secondsignal) causes very low induction of proliferation and will eventuallyresult in a state of “anergy”, which is characterized by the absence ofgrowth and inability to produce cytokines. The addition of acostimulatory signal such as an antibody to CD28, which mimics theaction of the costimulatory molecule. B7-1 expressed on activated APCs,results in enhancement of T cell responses including cell survival andproduction of IL-2. Therefore this type of assay allows to detect bothpositive and negative effects caused by addition of supernatantsexpressing the proteins of interest on T cell proliferation.

[1208] The assay is performed as follows. Ninety-six well plates arecoated with 100 ng/ml anti-CD3 and 5 ug/ml anti-CD28 (Pharmingen, SanDiego, Calif.) in a final volume of 100 ul and incubated overnight at4C. Plates are washed twice with PBS before use. PBMC are isolated byFicoll (LSM, ICN Biotechnologies, Aurora, Ohio) gradient centrifugationfrom human peripheral blood, and are cultured overnight in 10% FCS(FetalCalf Serum, Biofluids, Rockville, Md.)/RPMI (Gibco BRL, Gaithersburg,Md.). This overnight incubation period allows the adherent cells toattach to the plastic, which results in a lower background in the assayas there are fewer cells that can act as antigen presenting cells orthat might be producing growth factors. The following day the nonadherent cells are collected, washed and used in the proliferationassay. The assay is performed in a 96 well plate using 2×10⁴ cells/wellin a final volume of 200 ul. The supernatants (e.g., CHO or 293Tsupernatants) expressing the protein of interest are tested at a 30%final dilution, therefore 60 ul are added to 140 ul of 10% FCS/RPMIcontaining the cells. Control supernatants are used at the same finaldilution and express the following proteins: vector only (negativecontrol), IL-2, IFN□, TNF□, IL-10 and TR2. In addition to the controlsupernatants recombinant human IL-2 (R & D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.)at a final concentration of 10 ng/ml is also used. After 24 hours ofculture, each well is pulsed with 1 uCi of ³H-thymidine (Nen, Boston,Mass.). Cells are then harvested 20 hours following pulsing andincorporation of ³H-thymidine is used as a measure of proliferation.Results are expressed as an average of triplicate samples plus or minusstandard error.

[1209] Costimulation assay: IFN γ and IL-2 ELISA

[1210] The assay is performed as follows. Twenty-four well plates arecoated with either 300 ng/ml or 600 ng/ml anti-CD3 and 5 ug/ml anti-CD28(Pharmingen, San Diego, Calif.) in a final volume of 500 ul andincubated overnight at 4C. Plates are washed twice with PBS before use.PBMC are isolated by Ficoll (LSM, ICN Biotechnologies, Aurora, Ohio)gradient centrifugation from human peripheral blood, and are culturedovernight in 10% FCS(Fetal Calf Serum, Biofluids, Rockville, Md.)/RPMI(Gibco BRL, Gaithersburg, Md.). This overnight incubation period allowsthe adherent cells to attach to the plastic, which results in a lowerbackground in the assay as there are fewer cells that can act as antigenpresenting cells or that might be producing growth factors. Thefollowing day the non adherent cells are collected, washed and used inthe costimulation assay. The assay is performed in the pre-coatedtwenty-four well plate using 1×10⁵ cells/well in a final volume of 900ul. The supernatants (293T supernatants) expressing the protein ofinterest are tested at a 30% final dilution, therefore 300 ul are addedto 600 ul of 10% FCS/RPMI containing the cells. Control supernatants areused at the same final dilution and express the following proteins:vector only(negative control), IL-2, IFN□, IL-12 and IL-18. In additionto the control supernatants recombinant human IL-2 (all cytokines werepurchased from R & D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn.) at a finalconcentration of 10 ng/ml, IL-12 at a final concentration of 1 ng/ml andIL-18 at a final concentration of 50 ng/ml are also used. Controls andunknown samples are tested in duplicate. Supernatant samples (250 ul)are collected 2 days and 5 days after the beginning of the assay. ELISAsto test for IFN□ and IL-2 secretion are performed using kits purchasedfrom R & D Systems, (Minneapolis, Minn.). Results are expressed as anaverage of duplicate samples plus or minus standard error.

[1211] Proliferation assay for preactivated-resting T cells.

[1212] A proliferation assay on preactivated-resting T cells isperformed on cells that are previously activated with the lectinphytohemagglutinin (PHA). Lectins are polymeric plant proteins that canbind to residues on T cell surface glycoproteins including the TCR andact as polyclonal activators. PBLs treated with PHA and then cultured inthe presence of low doses of IL-2 resemble effector T cells. These cellsare generally more sensitive to further activation induced by growthfactors such as IL-2. This is due to the expression of high affinityIL-2 receptors that allows this population to respond to amounts of IL-2that are 100 fold lower than what would have an effect on a naive Tcell. Therefore the use of this type of cells might enable to detect theeffect of very low doses of an unknown growth factor, that would not besufficient to induce proliferation on resting (naive) T cells.

[1213] The assay is performed as follows. PBMC are isolated by F/Hgradient centrifugation from human peripheral blood, and are culturedinl 0% FCS(Fetal Calf Serum, Biofluids, Rockville, Md.)/RPMI (Gibco BRL,Gaithersburg, Md.) in the presence of 2 ug/ml PHA (Sigma, Saint Louis,Mo.) for three days. The cells are then washed in PBS and cultured in10%FCS/RPMI in the presence of 5 ng/ml of human recombinant IL-2 (R & DSystems, Minneapolis, Minn.) for 3 days. The cells are washed and restedin starvation medium (1% FCS/RPMI) forl6 hours prior to the beginning ofthe proliferation assay. An aliquot of the cells is analyzed by FACS todetermine the percentage of T cells (CD3 positive cells) present; thisusually ranges between 93-97% depending on the donor. The assay isperformed in a 96 well plate using 2×10⁴ cells/well in a final volume of200 ul. The supernatants (e.g., CHO or 293T supernatants) expressing theprotein of interest are tested at a 30% final dilution, therefore 60 ulare added to 140 ul of in 10% FCS/RPMI containing the cells. Controlsupernatants are used at the same final dilution and express thefollowing proteins: vector (negative control), IL-2, IFN□, TNF□, IL-10and TR2. In addition to the control supernatants recombinant human IL-2at a final concentration of 10 ng/ml is also used. After 24 hours ofculture, each well is pulsed with 1 uCi of ³H-thymidine(Nen, Boston,Mass.). Cells are then harvested 20 hours following pulsing andincorporation of ³H-thymidine is used as a measure of proliferation.Results are expressed as an average of triplicate samples plus or minusstandard error.

[1214] The studies described in this example test activity ofpolypeptides of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides of the invention (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/orantagonists of polynucleotides or polypeptides of the invention.

Example 34 Effect of Polypeptides of the Invention on the Expression ofMHC Class II, Costimulatory and Adhesion Molecules and CellDifferentiation of Monocytes and Monocyte-Derived Human Dendritic Cells

[1215] Dendritic cells are generated by the expansion of proliferatingprecursors found in the peripheral blood: adherent PBMC or elutriatedmonocytic fractions are cultured for 7-10 days with GM-CSF (50 ng/ml)and IL-4 (20 ng/ml). These dendritic cells have the characteristicphenotype of immature cells (expression of CD1, CD80, CD86, CD40 and MHCclass II antigens). Treatment with activating factors, such as TNF-αe,causes a rapid change in surface phenotype (increased expression of MHCclass I and II, costimulatory and adhesion molecules, downregulation ofFCγ R11, upregulation of CD83). These changes correlate with increasedantigen-presenting capacity and with functional maturation of thedendritic cells.

[1216] FACS analysis of surface antigens is performed as follows. Cellsare treated 1-3 days with increasing concentrations of polypeptides ofthe invention or LPS (positive control), washed with PBS containing 1%BSA and 0.02 mM sodium azide, and then incubated with 1:20 dilution ofappropriate FITC- or PE-labeled monoclonal antibodies for 30 minutes at4 degrees C. After an additional wash, the labeled cells are analyzed byflow cytometry on a FACScan (Becton Dickinson).

[1217] Effect on the production of cytokines. Cytokines generated bydendritic cells, in particular IL-12, are important in the initiation ofT-cell dependent immune responses. IL-12 strongly influences thedevelopment of Th1 helper T-cell immune response, and induces cytotoxicT and NK cell function. An ELISA is used to measure the IL-12 release asfollows. Dendritic cells (10⁶/ml) are treated with increasingconcentrations of polypeptides of the invention for 24 hours. LPS (100ng/ml) is added to the cell culture as positive control. Supernatantsfrom the cell cultures are then collected and analyzed for IL-12 contentusing commercial ELISA kit (e.g, R & D Systems (Minneapolis, Minn.)).The standard protocols provided with the kits are used.

[1218] Effect on the expression of MHC Class II, costimulatory andadhesion molecules. Three major families of cell surface antigens can beidentified on monocytes: adhesion molecules, molecules involved inantigen presentation, and Fc receptor. Modulation of the expression ofMHC class II antigens and other costimulatory molecules, such as B7 andICAM-1, may result in changes in the antigen presenting capacity ofmonocytes and ability to induce T cell activation. Increase expressionof Fc receptors may correlate with improved monocyte cytotoxic activity,cytokine release and phagocytosis.

[1219] FACS analysis is used to examine the surface antigens as follows.Monocytes are treated 1-5 days with increasing concentrations ofpolypeptides of the invention or LPS (positive control), washed with PBScontaining 1% BSA and 0.02 mM sodium azide, and then incubated with 1:20dilution of appropriate FITC- or PE-labeled monoclonal antibodies for 30minutes at 4 degrees C. After an additional wash, the labeled cells areanalyzed by flow cytometry on a FACScan (Becton Dickinson).

[1220] Monocyte activation and/or increased survival. Assays formolecules that activate (or alternatively, inactivate) monocytes and/orincrease monocyte survival (or alternatively, decrease monocytesurvival) are known in the art and may routinely be applied to determinewhether a molecule of the invention functions as an inhibitor oractivator of monocytes. Polypeptides, agonists, or antagonists of theinvention can be screened using the three assays described below. Foreach of these assays, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) arepurified from single donor leukopacks (American Red Cross, Baltimore,Md.) by centrifugation through a Histopaque gradient (Sigma). Monocytesare isolated from PBMC by counterflow centrifugal elutriation.

[1221] Monocyte Survival Assay. Human peripheral blood monocytesprogressively lose viability when cultured in absence of serum or otherstimuli. Their death results from internally regulated process(apoptosis). Addition to the culture of activating factors, such asTNF-alpha dramatically improves cell survival and prevents DNAfragmentation. Propidium iodide (PI) staining is used to measureapoptosis as follows. Monocytes are cultured for 48 hours inpolypropylene tubes in serum-free medium (positive control), in thepresence of 100 ng/ml TNF-alpha (negative control), and in the presenceof varying concentrations of the compound to be tested. Cells aresuspended at a concentration of 2×10⁶/ml in PBS containing PI at a finalconcentration of 5 μg/ml, and then incubaed at room temperature for 5minutes before FACScan analysis. PI uptake has been demonstrated tocorrelate with DNA fragmentation in this experimental paradigm.

[1222] Effect on cvtokine release. An important function ofmonocytes/macrophages is their regulatory activity on other cellularpopulations of the immune system through the release of cytokines afterstimulation. An ELISA to measure cytokine release is performed asfollows. Human monocytes are incubated at a density of 5×10⁵ cells/mlwith increasing concentrations of the a polypeptide of the invention andunder the same conditions, but in the absence of the polypeptide. ForIL-12 production, the cells are primed overnight with IFN (100 U/ml) inpresence of a polypeptide of the invention. LPS (10 ng/ml) is thenadded. Conditioned media are collected after 24h and kept frozen untiluse. Measurement of TNF-alpha, IL-10, MCP-1 and IL-8 is then performedusing a commercially available ELISA kit (e.g, R & D Systems(Minneapolis, Minn.)) and applying the standard protocols provided withthe kit.

[1223] Oxidative burst. Purified monocytes are plated in 96-w plate at2−1×10⁵ cell/well. Increasing concentrations of polypeptides of theinvention are added to the wells in a total volume of 0.2 ml culturemedium (RPMI 1640+10% FCS, glutamine and antibiotics). After 3 daysincubation, the plates are centrifuged and the medium is removed fromthe wells. To the macrophage monolayers, 0.2 ml per well of phenol redsolution (140 mM NaCl, 10 mM potassium phosphate buffer pH 7.0, 5.5 mMdextrose, 0.56 mM phenol red and 19 U/ml of HRPO) is added, togetherwith the stimulant (200 nM PMA). The plates are incubated at 37° C. for2 hours and the reaction is stopped by adding 20 μl 1N NaOH per well.The absorbance is read at 610 nm. To calculate the amount of H₂O₂produced by the macrophages, a standard curve of a H₂O₂ solution ofknown molarity is performed for each experiment.

[1224] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolypeptides, polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/orantagonists of the invention.

Example 35 Biological Effects of Polypeptides of the Invention

[1225] Astrocyte and Neuronal Assays

[1226] Recombinant polypeptides of the invention, expressed inEscherichia coli and purified as described above, can be tested foractivity in promoting the survival, neurite outgrowth, or phenotypicdifferentiation of cortical neuronal cells and for inducing theproliferation of glial fibrillary acidic protein immunopositive cells,astrocytes. The selection of cortical cells for the bioassay is based onthe prevalent expression of FGF-1 and FGF-2 in cortical structures andon the previously reported enhancement of cortical neuronal survivalresulting from FGF-2 treatment. A thymidine incorporation assay, forexample, can be used to elucidate a polypeptide of the invention'sactivity on these cells.

[1227] Moreover, previous reports describing the biological effects ofFGF-2 (basic FGF) on cortical or hippocampal neurons in vitro havedemonstrated increases in both neuron survival and neurite outgrowth(Walicke et al., “Fibroblast growth factor promotes survival ofdissociated hippocampal neurons and enhances neurite extension.” Proc.Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 83:3012-3016. (1986), assay herein incorporated byreference in its entirety). However, reports from experiments done onPC-12 cells suggest that these two responses are not necessarilysynonymous and may depend on not only which FGF is being tested but alsoon which receptor(s) are expressed on the target cells. Using theprimary cortical neuronal culture paradigm, the ability of a polypeptideof the invention to induce neurite outgrowth can be compared to theresponse achieved with FGF-2 using, for example, a thymidineincorporation assay.

[1228] Fibroblast and endothelial cell assays

[1229] Human lung fibroblasts are obtained from Clonetics (San Diego,Calif.) and maintained in growth media from Clonetics. Dermalmicrovascular endothelial cells are obtained from Cell Applications (SanDiego, Calif.). For proliferation assays, the human lung fibroblasts anddermal microvascular endothelial cells can be cultured at 5,000cells/well in a 96-well plate for one day in growth medium. The cellsare then incubated for one day in 0.1% BSA basal medium. After replacingthe medium with fresh 0.1% BSA medium, the cells are incubated with thetest proteins for 3 days. Alamar Blue (Alamar Biosciences, Sacramento,Calif.) is added to each well to a final concentration of 10%. The cellsare incubated for 4 hr. Cell viability is measured by reading in aCytoFluor fluorescence reader. For the PGE₂ assays, the human lungfibroblasts are cultured at 5,000 cells/well in a 96-well plate for oneday. After a medium change to 0.1% BSA basal medium, the cells areincubated with FGF-2 or polypeptides of the invention with or withoutIL-1 α for 24 hours. The supernatants are collected and assayed for PGE₂by EIA kit (Cayman, Ann Arbor, Mich.). For the IL-6 assays, the humanlung fibroblasts are cultured at 5,000 cells/well in a 96-well plate forone day. After a medium change to 0.1% BSA basal medium, the cells areincubated with FGF-2 or with or without polypeptides of the inventionIL-11×for 24 hours. The supernatants are collected and assayed for IL-6by ELISA kit (Endogen, Cambridge, Mass.).

[1230] Human lung fibroblasts are cultured with FGF-2 or polypeptides ofthe invention for 3 days in basal medium before the addition of AlamarBlue to assess effects on growth of the fibroblasts. FGF-2 should show astimulation at 10-2500 ng/ml which can be used to compare stimulationwith polypeptides of the invention.

[1231] Parkinson Models.

[1232] The loss of motor function in Parkinson's disease is attributedto a deficiency of striatal dopamine resulting from the degeneration ofthe nigrostriatal dopaminergic projection neurons. An animal model forParkinson's that has been extensively characterized involves thesystemic administration of 1-methyl-4 phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine(MPTP). In the CNS, MPTP is taken-up by astrocytes and catabolized bymonoamine oxidase B to 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridine (MPP⁺) and released.Subsequently, MPP⁺is actively accumulated in dopaminergic neurons by thehigh-affinity reuptake transporter for dopamine. MPP⁺is thenconcentrated in mitochondria by the electrochemical gradient andselectively inhibits nicotidamide adenine disphosphate: ubiquinoneoxidoreductionase (complex I), thereby interfering with electrontransport and eventually generating oxygen radicals.

[1233] It has been demonstrated in tissue culture paradigms that FGF-2(basic FGF) has trophic activity towards nigral dopaminergic neurons(Ferrari et al., Dev. Biol. 1989). Recently, Dr. Unsicker's group hasdemonstrated that administering FGF-2 in gel foam implants in thestriatum results in the near complete protection of nigral dopaminergicneurons from the toxicity associated with MPTP exposure (Otto andUnsicker, J. Neuroscience, 1990).

[1234] Based on the data with FGF-2, polypeptides of the invention canbe evaluated to determine whether it has an action similar to that ofFGF-2 in enhancing dopaminergic neuronal survival in vitro and it canalso be tested in vivo for protection of dopaminergic neurons in thestriatum from the damage associated with MPTP treatment. The potentialeffect of a polypeptide of the invention is first examined in vitro in adopaminergic neuronal cell culture paradigm. The cultures are preparedby dissecting the midbrain floor plate from gestation day 14 Wistar ratembryos. The tissue is dissociated with trypsin and seeded at a densityof 200,000 cells/cm² on polyorthinine-laminin coated glass coverslips.The cells are maintained in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium and F12medium containing hormonal supplements (N 1). The cultures are fixedwith paraformaldehyde after 8 days in vitro and are processed fortyrosine hydroxylase, a specific marker for dopminergic neurons,immunohistochemical staining. Dissociated cell cultures are preparedfrom embryonic rats. The culture medium is changed every third day andthe factors are also added at that time.

[1235] Since the dopaminergic neurons are isolated from animals atgestation day 14, a developmental time which is past the stage when thedopaminergic precursor cells are proliferating, an increase in thenumber of tyrosine hydroxylase immunopositive neurons would represent anincrease in the number of dopaminergic neurons surviving in vitro.Therefore, if a polypeptide of the invention acts to prolong thesurvival of dopaminergic neurons, it would suggest that the polypeptidemay be involved in Parkinson's Disease.

[1236] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 36 The Effect of Polypeptides of the Invention on the Growth ofVascular Endothelial Cells

[1237] On day 1, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) areseeded at 2-5×1 04 cells/35 mm dish density in M199 medium containing 4%fetal bovine serum (FBS), 16 units/ml heparin, and 50 units/mlendothelial cell growth supplements (ECGS, Biotechnique, Inc.). On day2, the medium is replaced with M199 containing 10% FBS, 8 units/mlheparin. A polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID NO:Y,and positive controls, such as VEGF and basic FGF (bFGF) are added, atvarying concentrations. On days 4 and 6, the medium is replaced. On day8, cell number is determined with a Coulter Counter.

[1238] An increase in the number of HUVEC cells indicates that thepolypeptide of the invention may proliferate vascular endothelial cells.

[1239] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 37 Stimulatory Effect of Polypeptides of the Invention on theProliferatlon of Vascular Endothelial Cells

[1240] For evaluation of mitogenic activity of growth factors, thecolorimetric MTS(3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)₂H-tetrazolium)assay with the electron coupling reagent PMS (phenazine methosulfate)was performed (CellTiter 96 AQ, Promega). Cells are seeded in a 96-wellplate (5,000 cells/well) in 0.1 mL serum-supplemented medium and areallowed to attach overnight. After serum-starvation for 12 hours in 0.5%FBS, conditions (bFGF, VEGF₁₆₅ or a polypeptide of the invention in 0.5%FBS) with or without Heparin (8 U/ml) are added to wells for 48 hours.20 mg of MTS/PMS mixture (1:0.05) are added per well and allowed toincubate for 1 hour at 37° C. before measuring the absorbance at 490 nmin an ELISA plate reader. Background absorbance from control wells (somemedia, no cells) is subtracted, and seven wells are performed inparallel for each condition. See, Leak et al. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol.30A:512-518 (1994).

[1241] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 38 Inhibition of PDGF-induced Vascular Smooth Muscle CellProliferation Stimulatory Effect

[1242] HAoSMC proliferation can be measured, for example, by BrdUrdincorporation. Briefly, subconfluent, quiescent cells grown on the4-chamber slides are transfected with CRP or FITC-labeled AT2-3LP. Then,the cells are pulsed with 10% calf serum and 6 mg/ml BrdUrd. After 24 h,immunocytochemistry is performed by using BrdUrd Staining Kit (ZymedLaboratories). In brief, the cells are incubated with the biotinylatedmouse anti-BrdUrd antibody at 4 degrees C. for 2 h after being exposedto denaturing solution and then incubated with thestreptavidin-peroxidase and diaminobenzidine. After counterstaining withhematoxylin, the cells are mounted for microscopic examination, and theBrdUrd-positive cells are counted. The BrdUrd index is calculated as apercent of the BrdUrd-positive cells to the total cell number. Inaddition, the simultaneous detection of the BrdUrd staining (nucleus)and the FITC uptake (cytoplasm) is performed for individual cells by theconcomitant use of bright field illumination and dark field-UVfluorescent illumination. See, Hayashida et al., J. Biol. Chem.6:271(36):21985-21992 (1996).

[1243] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 39 Stimulation of Endothelial Migration

[1244] This example will be used to explore the possibility that apolypeptide of the invention may stimulate lymphatic endothelial cellmigration.

[1245] Endothelial cell migration assays are performed using a 48 wellmicrochemotaxis chamber (Neuroprobe Inc., Cabin John, MD; Falk, W., etal., J. Immunological Methods 1980;33:239-247).Polyvinylpyrrolidone-free polycarbonate filters with a pore size of 8 um(Nucleopore Corp. Cambridge, Mass.) are coated with 0.1% gelatin for atleast 6 hours at room temperature and dried under sterile air. Testsubstances are diluted to appropriate concentrations in M199supplemented with 0.25% bovine serum albumin (BSA), and 25 ul of thefinal dilution is placed in the lower chamber of the modified Boydenapparatus. Subconfluent, early passage (2-6) HUVEC or BMEC cultures arewashed and trypsinized for the minimum time required to achieve celldetachment. After placing the filter between lower and upper chamber,2.5×10⁵ cells suspended in 50 ul M199 containing 1% FBS are seeded inthe upper compartment. The apparatus is then incubated for 5 hours at37° C. in a humidified chamber with 5% CO₂ to allow cell migration.After the incubation period, the filter is removed and the upper side ofthe filter with the non-migrated cells is scraped with a rubberpoliceman. The filters are fixed with methanol and stained with a Giemsasolution (Diff-Quick, Baxter, McGraw Park, Ill.). Migration isquantified by counting cells of three random high-power fields (40×) ineach well, and all groups are performed in quadruplicate.

[1246] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 40 Stimulation of Nitric Oxide Production by Endothelial Cells

[1247] Nitric oxide released by the vascular endothelium is believed tobe a mediator of vascular endothelium relaxation. Thus, activity of apolypeptide of the invention can be assayed by determining nitric oxideproduction by endothelial cells in response to the polypeptide.

[1248] Nitric oxide is measured in 96-well plates of confluentmicrovascular endothelial cells after 24 hours starvation and asubsequent 4 hr exposure to various levels of a positive control (suchas VEGF-1) and the polypeptide of the invention. Nitric oxide in themedium is determined by use of the Griess reagent to measure totalnitrite after reduction of nitric oxide-derived nitrate by nitratereductase. The effect of the polypeptide of the invention on nitricoxide release is examined on HUVEC.

[1249] Briefly, NO release from cultured HUVEC monolayer is measuredwith a NO-specific polarographic electrode connected to a NO meter(Iso-NO, World Precision Instruments Inc.) (1049). Calibration of the NOelements is performed according to the following equation:

2 KNO₂+2KI+2H₂SO₄62 NO+I₂+2H₂O+2 K₂SO₄

[1250] The standard calibration curve is obtained by adding gradedconcentrations of KNO₂ (0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, and 500 nmol/L) intothe calibration solution containing K₁ and H₂SO₄. The specificity of theIso-NO electrode to NO is previously determined by measurement of NOfrom authentic NO gas (1050). The culture medium is removed and HUVECsare washed twice with Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline. The cellsare then bathed in 5 ml of filtered Krebs-Henseleit solution in 6-wellplates, and the cell plates are kept on a slide warmer (Lab LineInstruments Inc.) To maintain the temperature at 37° C. The NO sensorprobe is inserted vertically into the wells, keeping the tip of theelectrode 2 mm under the surface of the solution, before addition of thedifferent conditions. S-nitroso acetyl penicillamin (SNAP) is used as apositive control. The amount of released NO is expressed as picomolesper 1×10⁶ endothelial cells. All values reported are means of four tosix measurements in each group (number of cell culture wells). See, Leaket al. Biochem. and Biophys. Res. Comm. 21 7:96-105 (1995).

[1251] The studies described in this example tested activity ofpolypeptides of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 41 Effect of Polypepides of the Invention on Cord Formation inAngiogenesis

[1252] Another step in angiogenesis is cord formation, marked bydifferentiation of endothelial cells. This bioassay measures the abilityof microvascular endothelial cells to form capillary-like structures(hollow structures) when cultured in vitro.

[1253] CADMEC (microvascular endothelial cells) are purchased from CellApplications, Inc. as proliferating (passage 2) cells and are culturedin Cell Applications'CADMEC Growth Medium and used at passage 5. For thein vitro angiogenesis assay, the wells of a 48-well cell culture plateare coated with Cell Applications' Attachment Factor Medium (200ml/well) for 30 min. at 37° C. CADMEC are seeded onto the coated wellsat 7,500 cells/well and cultured overnight in Growth Medium. The GrowthMedium is then replaced with 300 mg Cell Applications'Chord FormationMedium containing control buffer or a polypeptide of the invention (0.1to 100 ng/ml) and the cells are cultured for an additional 48 hr. Thenumbers and lengths of the capillary-like chords are quantitated throughuse of the Boeckeler VIA-170 video image analyzer. All assays are donein triplicate.

[1254] Commercial (R&D) VEGF (50 ng/ml) is used as a positive control.b-esteradiol (1 ng/ml) is used as a negative control. The appropriatebuffer (without protein) is also utilized as a control.

[1255] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 42 Angiogenic Effect on Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane

[1256] Chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is a well-established systemto examine angiogenesis. Blood vessel formation on CAM is easily visibleand quantifiable. The ability of polypeptides of the invention tostimulate angiogenesis in CAM can be examined.

[1257] Fertilized eggs of the White Leghorn chick (Gallus gallus) andthe Japanese qual (Coturnix coturnix) are incubated at 37.8° C. and 80%humidity. Differentiated CAM of 16-day-old chick and 13-day-old qualembryos is studied with the following methods.

[1258] On Day 4 of development, a window is made into the egg shell ofchick eggs. The embryos are checked for normal development and the eggssealed with cellotape. They are further incubated until Day 13.Thermanox coverslips (Nunc, Naperville, Ill.) are cut into disks ofabout 5 mm in diameter. Sterile and salt-free growth factors aredissolved in distilled water and about 3.3 mg/5 ml are pipetted on thedisks. After air-drying, the inverted disks are applied on CAM. After 3days, the specimens are fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde and 2% formaldehydeand rinsed in 0.12 M sodium cacodylate buffer. They are photographedwith a stereo microscope [Wild M8] and embedded for semi- and ultrathinsectioning as described above. Controls are performed with carrier disksalone.

[1259] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 43 Angiogenesis Assay Using a Matrigel Implant in Mouse

[1260] In vivo angiogenesis assay of a polypeptide of the inventionmeasures the ability of an existing capillary network to form newvessels in an implanted capsule of murine extracellular matrix material(Matrigel). The protein is mixed with the liquid Matrigel at 4 degree C.and the mixture is then injected subcutaneously in mice where itsolidifies. After 7 days, the solid “plug” of Matrigel is removed andexamined for the presence of new blood vessels. Matrigel is purchasedfrom Becton Dickinson Labware/Collaborative Biomedical Products.

[1261] When thawed at 4 degree C. the Matrigel material is a liquid. TheMatrigel is mixed with a polypeptide of the invention at 150 ng/ml at 4degrees C. and drawn into cold 3 ml syringes. Female C57BU/6 miceapproximately 8 weeks old are injected with the mixture of Matrigel andexperimental protein at 2 sites at the midventral aspect of the abdomen(0.5 nil/site). After 7 days, the mice are sacrificed by cervicaldislocation, the Matrigel plugs are removed and cleaned (i.e., allclinging membranes and fibrous tissue is removed). Replicate whole plugsare fixed in neutral buffered 10% formaldehyde, embedded in paraffin andused to produce sections for histological examination after stainingwith Masson's Trichrome. Cross sections from 3 different regions of eachplug are processed. Selected sections are stained for the presence ofvWF. The positive control for this assay is bovine basic FGF (150ng/ml). Matrigel alone is used to determine basal levels ofangiogenesis.

[1262] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 44 Rescue of Ischemia in Rabbit Lower Limb Model

[1263] To study the in vivo effects of polynucleotides and polypeptidesof the invention on ischemia, a rabbit hindlimb ischemia model iscreated by surgical removal of one femoral arteries as describedpreviously (Takeshita et al., Am J Pathol 147:1649-1660 (1995)). Theexcision of the femoral artery results in retrograde propagation ofthrombus and occlusion of the external iliac artery. Consequently, bloodflow to the ischemic limb is dependent upon collateral vesselsoriginating from the internal iliac artery (Takeshitaet al. Am J Pathol147:1649-1660 (1995)). An interval of 10 days is allowed forpost-operative recovery of rabbits and development of endogenouscollateral vessels. At 10 day post-operatively (day 0), after performinga baseline angiogram, the internal iliac artery of the ischemic limb istransfected with 500 mg naked expression plasmid containing apolynucleotide of the invention by arterial gene transfer technologyusing a hydrogel-coated balloon catheter as described (Riessen et al.Hum Gene Ther. 4:749-758 (1993); Leclerc et al. J. Clin. Invest. 90:936-944 (1992)). When a polypeptide of the invention is used in thetreatment, a single bolus of 500 mg polypeptide of the invention orcontrol is delivered into the internal iliac artery of the ischemic limbover a period of 1 min. through an infusion catheter. On day 30, variousparameters are measured in these rabbits: (a) BP ratio—The bloodpressure ratio of systolic pressure of the ischemic limb to that ofnormal limb; (b) Blood Flow and Flow Reserve—Resting FL: the blood flowduring undilated condition and Max FL: the blood flow during fullydilated condition (also an indirect measure of the blood vessel amount)and Flow Reserve is reflected by the ratio of max FL: resting FL; (c)Angiographic Score —This is measured by the angiogram of collateralvessels. A score is determined by the percentage of circles in anoverlaying grid that with crossing opacified arteries divided by thetotal number m the rabbit thigh; (d) Capillary density—The number ofcollateral capillaries determined in light microscopic sections takenfrom hindlimbs.

[1264] The studies described in this example tested activity ofpolynucleotides and polypeptides of the invention. However, one skilledin the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to test theagonists, and/or antagonists of the invention.

Example 45 Effect of Polypeptides of the Invention on Vasodilation

[1265] Since dilation of vascular endothelium is important in reducingblood pressure, the ability of polypeptides of the invention to affectthe blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) is examined.Increasing doses (0, 10, 30, 100, 300, and 900 mg/kg) of thepolypeptides of the invention are administered to 13-14 week oldspontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Data are expressed as the mean+/−SEM. Statistical analysis are performed with a paired t-test andstatistical significance is defined as p<0.05 vs. the response to bufferalone.

[1266] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 46 Rat Ischemic Skin Flap Model

[1267] The evaluation parameters include skin blood flow, skintemperature, and factor VIII immunohistochemistry or endothelialalkaline phosphatase reaction. Expression of polypeptides of theinvention, during the skin ischemia, is studied using in situhybridization.

[1268] The study in this model is divided into three parts as follows:

[1269] Ischemic skin

[1270] Ischemic skin wounds

[1271] Normal wounds

[1272] The experimental protocol includes:

[1273] Raising a 3×4 cm, single pedicle full-thickness random skin flap(myocutaneous flap over the lower back of the animal).

[1274] An excisional wounding (4-6 mm in diameter) in the ischemic skin(skin-flap).

[1275] Topical treatment with a polypeptide of the invention of theexcisional wounds (day 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 post-wounding) at the followingvarious dosage ranges: 1 mg to 100 mg.

[1276] Harvesting the wound tissues at day 3, 5, 7, 10, 14 and 21post-wounding for histological, immunohistochemical, and in situstudies.

[1277] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 47 Peripheral Arterial Disease Model

[1278] Angiogenic therapy using a polypeptide of the invention is anovel therapeutic strategy to obtain restoration of blood flow aroundthe ischemia in case of peripheral arterial diseases. The experimentalprotocol includes:

[1279] One side of the femoral artery is ligated to create ischemicmuscle of the hindlimb, the other side of hindlimb serves as a control.

[1280] a polypeptide of the invention, in a dosage range of 20 mg-500mg, is delivered intravenously and/or intramuscularly 3 times (perhapsmore) per week for 2-3 weeks.

[1281] The ischemic muscle tissue is collected after ligation of thefemoral artery at 1, 2, and 3 weeks for the analysis of expression of apolypeptide of the invention and histology. Biopsy is also performed onthe other side of normal muscle of the contralateral hindlimb.

[1282] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 48 Ischemic Myocardial Disease Model

[1283] A polypeptide of the invention is evaluated as a potent mitogencapable of stimulating the development of collateral vessels, andrestructuring new vessels after coronary artery occlusion. Alteration ofexpression of the polypeptide is investigated in situ. The experimentalprotocol includes:

[1284] The heart is exposed through a left-side thoracotomy in the rat.Immediately, the left coronary artery is occluded with a thin suture(6-0) and the thorax is closed.

[1285] a polypeptide of the invention, in a dosage range of 20 mg-500mg, is delivered intravenously and/or intramuscularly 3 times (perhapsmore) per week for 2-4 weeks.

[1286] Thirty days after the surgery, the heart is removed andcross-sectioned for morphometric and in situ analyzes.

[1287] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 49 Rat Corneal Wound Healing Model

[1288] This animal model shows the effect of a polypeptide of theinvention on neovascularization. The experimental protocol includes:

[1289] Making a 1-1.5 mm long incision from the center of cornea intothe stromal layer.

[1290] Inserting a spatula below the lip of the incision facing theouter corner of the eye.

[1291] Making a pocket (its base is 1-1.5 mm form the edge of the eye).

[1292] Positioning a pellet, containing 50 ng-5 ug of a polypeptide ofthe invention, within the pocket.

[1293] Treatment with a polypeptide of the invention can also be appliedtopically to the corneal wounds in a dosage range of 20 mg-500 mg (dailytreatment for five days).

[1294] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 50 Diabetic Mouse and Glucocorticoid-Impaired Wound HealingModels

[1295] Diabetic db+/db+Mouse ModeL

[1296] To demonstrate that a polypeptide of the invention acceleratesthe healing process, the genetically diabetic mouse model of woundhealing is used. The full thickness wound healing model in thedb+/db+mouse is a well characterized, clinically relevant andreproducible model of impaired wound healing. Healing of the diabeticwound is dependent on formation of granulation tissue andre-epithelialization rather than contraction (Gartner, M. H. et al., J.Surg. Res. 52:389 (1992); Greenhalgh, D. G. et al., Am. J. Pathol.136:1235 (1990)).

[1297] The diabetic animals have many of the characteristic featuresobserved in Type II diabetes mellitus. Homozygous (db+/db+) mice areobese in comparison to their normal heterozygous (db+/+m) littermates.Mutant diabetic (db+/db+) mice have a single autosomal recessivemutation on chromosome 4 (db+) (Coleman et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA 77:283-293 (1982)). Animals show polyphagia, polydipsia andpolyuria. Mutant diabetic mice (db+/db+) have elevated blood glucose,increased or normal insulin levels, and suppressed cell-mediatedimmunity (Mandel et al., J. Immunol. 120:1375 (1978); Debray-Sachs, M.et al., Clin. Exp. Immunol. 51(1):1-7 (1983); Leiter et al., Am. J. ofPathol. 114:46-55 (1985)). Peripheral neuropathy, myocardialcomplications, and microvascular lesions, basement membrane thickeningand glomerular filtration abnormalities have been described in theseanimals (Norido, F. et al., Exp. Neurol. 83(2):221-232 (1984); Robertsonet al., Diabetes 29(1):60-67 (1980); Giacomelli et al., Lab Invest.40(4):460-473 (1979); Coleman, D. L., Diabetes 31 (Suppl):1-6 (1982)).These homozygous diabetic mice develop hyperglycemia that is resistantto insulin analogous to human type II diabetes (Mandel et al., J.Immunol. 120:1375-1377 (1978)).

[1298] The characteristics observed in these animals suggests thathealing in this model may be similar to the healing observed in humandiabetes (Greenhalgh, et al., Am. J. of Pathol. 136:1235-1246 (1990)).

[1299] Genetically diabetic female C57BL/KsJ (db+/db+) mice and theirnon-diabetic (db+/+m) heterozygous littermates are used in this study(Jackson Laboratories). The animals are purchased at 6 weeks of age andare 8 weeks old at the beginning of the study. Animals are individuallyhoused and received food and water ad libitum. All manipulations areperformed using aseptic techniques. The experiments are conductedaccording to the rules and guidelines of Human Genome Sciences, Inc.Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the Guidelines for theCare and Use of Laboratory Animals.

[1300] Wounding protocol is performed according to previously reportedmethods (Tsuboi, R. and Rifkin, D. B., J. Exp. Med. 172:245-251 (1990)).Briefly, on the day of wounding, animals are anesthetized with anintraperitoneal injection of Avertin (0.01 mg/mL), 2,2,2-tribromoethanoland 2-methyl-2-butanol dissolved in deionized water. The dorsal regionof the animal is shaved and the skin washed with 70% ethanol solutionand iodine. The surgical area is dried with sterile gauze prior towounding. An 8 mm full-thickness wound is then created using a Keyestissue punch. Immediately following wounding, the surrounding skin isgently stretched to eliminate wound expansion. The wounds are left openfor the duration of the experiment. Application of the treatment isgiven topically for 5 consecutive days commencing on the day ofwounding. Prior to treatment, wounds are gently cleansed with sterilesaline and gauze sponges.

[1301] Wounds are visually examined and photographed at a fixed distanceat the day of surgery and at two day intervals thereafter. Wound closureis determined by daily measurement on days 1-5 and on day 8. Wounds aremeasured horizontally and vertically using a calibrated Jameson caliper.Wounds are considered healed if granulation tissue is no longer visibleand the wound is covered by a continuous epithelium.

[1302] A polypeptide of the invention is administered using at a rangedifferent doses, from 4 mg to 500 mg per wound per day for 8 days invehicle. Vehicle control groups received 50 mL of vehicle solution.

[1303] Animals are euthanized on day 8 with an intraperitoneal injectionof sodium pentobarbital (300 mg/kg). The wounds and surrounding skin arethen harvested for histology and immunohistochemistry. Tissue specimensare placed in 10% neutral buffered formalin in tissue cassettes betweenbiopsy sponges for further processing.

[1304] Three groups of 10 animals each (5 diabetic and 5 non-diabeticcontrols) are evaluated: 1) Vehicle placebo control, 2) untreated group,and 3) treated group.

[1305] Wound closure is analyzed by measuring the area in the verticaland horizontal axis and obtaining the total square area of the wound.Contraction is then estimated by establishing the differences betweenthe initial wound area (day 0) and that of post treatment (day 8). Thewound area on day 1 is 64 mm2, the corresponding size of the dermalpunch. Calculations are made using the following formula:

[Open area on day 8]−[Open area on day 1]/[Open area on day 1]

[1306] Specimens are fixed in 10% buffered formalin and paraffinembedded blocks are sectioned perpendicular to the wound surface (5 mm)and cut using a Reichert-Jung microtome. Routine hematoxylin-eosin (H&E)staining is performed on cross-sections of bisected wounds. Histologicexamination of the wounds are used to assess whether the healing processand the morphologic appearance of the repaired skin is altered bytreatment with a polypeptide of the invention. This assessment includedverification of the presence of cell accumulation, inflammatory cells,capillaries, fibroblasts, re-epithelialization and epidermal maturity(Greenhalgh, D. G. et al., Am. J. Pathol. 136:1235 (1990)). A calibratedlens micrometer is used by a blinded observer.

[1307] Tissue sections are also stained immunohistochemically with apolyclonal rabbit anti-human keratin antibody using ABC Elite detectionsystem. Human skin is used as a positive tissue control while non-immuneIgG is used as a negative control. Keratinocyte growth is determined byevaluating the extent of reepithelialization of the wound using acalibrated lens micrometer.

[1308] Proliferating cell nuclear antigen/cyclin (PCNA) in skinspecimens is demonstrated by using anti-PCNA antibody (1:50) with an ABCElite detection system. Human colon cancer can serve as a positivetissue control and human brain tissue can be used as a negative tissuecontrol. Each specimen includes a section with omission of the primaryantibody and substitution with non-immune mouse IgG. Ranking of thesesections is based on the extent of proliferation on a scale of 0-8, thelower side of the scale reflecting slight proliferation to the higherside reflecting intense proliferation.

[1309] Experimental data are analyzed using an unpaired t test. A pvalue of <0.05 is considered significant.

[1310] Steroid Impaired Rat Model

[1311] The inhibition of wound healing by steroids has been welldocumented in various in vitro and in vivo systems (Wahl,Glucocorticoids and Wound healing. In: Anti-Inflammatory Steroid Action:Basic and Clinical Aspects. 280-302 (1989); Wahlet al., J. Immunol. 115:476-481 (1975); Werb et al., J. Exp. Med. 147:1684-1694 (1978)).Glucocorticoids retard wound healing by inhibiting angiogenesis,decreasing vascular permeability (Ebert et al., An. Intern. Med.37:701-705 (1952)), fibroblast proliferation, and collagen synthesis(Beck et al., Growth Factors. 5: 295-304 (1991); Haynes et al., J. Clin.Invest. 61: 703-797 (1978)) and producing a transient reduction ofcirculating monocytes (Haynes et al., J. Clin. Invest. 61: 703-797(1978); Wahl, “Glucocorticoids and wound healing”, In: AntiinflammatorySteroid Action: Basic and Clinical Aspects, Academic Press, New York,pp. 280-302 (1989)). The systemic administration of steroids to impairedwound healing is a well establish phenomenon in rats (Beck et al.,Growth Factors. 5: 295-304 (1991); Haynes et al., J. Clin. Invest. 61:703-797 (1978); Wahl, “Glucocorticoids and wound healing”, In:Antiinflammatory Steroid Action: Basic and Clinical Aspects, AcademicPress, New York, pp. 280-302 (1989); Pierce et al, Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA 86: 2229-2233 (1989)).

[1312] To demonstrate that a polypeptide of the invention can acceleratethe healing process, the effects of multiple topical applications of thepolypeptide on full thickness excisional skin wounds in rats in whichhealing has been impaired by the systemic administration ofmethylprednisolone is assessed.

[1313] Young adult male Sprague Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g (CharlesRiver Laboratories) are used in this example. The animals are purchasedat 8 weeks of age and are 9 weeks old at the beginning of the study. Thehealing response of rats is impaired by the systemic administration ofmethylprednisolone (17 mg/kg/rat intramuscularly) at the time ofwounding. Animals are individually housed and received food and water adlibitum. All manipulations are performed using aseptic techniques. Thisstudy is conducted according to the rules and guidelines of Human GenomeSciences, Inc. Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and theGuidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.

[1314] The wounding protocol is followed according to section A, above.On the day of wounding, animals are anesthetized with an intramuscularinjection of ketamine (50 mg/kg) and xylazine (5 mg/kg). The dorsalregion of the animal is shaved and the skin washed with 70% ethanol andiodine solutions. The surgical area is dried with sterile gauze prior towounding. An 8 mm full-thickness wound is created using a Keyes tissuepunch. The wounds are left open for the duration of the experiment.Applications of the testing materials are given topically once a day for7 consecutive days commencing on the day of wounding and subsequent tomethylprednisolone administration. Prior to treatment, wounds are gentlycleansed with sterile saline and gauze sponges.

[1315] Wounds are visually examined and photographed at a fixed distanceat the day of wounding and at the end of treatment. Wound closure isdetermined by daily measurement on days 1-5 and on day 8. Wounds aremeasured horizontally and vertically using a calibrated Jameson caliper.Wounds are considered healed if granulation tissue is no longer visibleand the wound is covered by a continuous epithelium.

[1316] The polypeptide of the invention is administered using at a rangedifferent doses, from 4 mg to 500 mg per wound per day for 8 days invehicle. Vehicle control groups received 50 mL of vehicle solution.

[1317] Animals are euthanized on day 8 with an intraperitoneal injectionof sodium pentobarbital (300 mg/kg). The wounds and surrounding skin arethen harvested for histology. Tissue specimens are placed in 10% neutralbuffered formalin in tissue cassettes between biopsy sponges for furtherprocessing.

[1318] Four groups of 10 animals each (5 with methylprednisolone and 5without glucocorticoid) are evaluated: 1) Untreated group 2) Vehicleplacebo control 3) treated groups.

[1319] Wound closure is analyzed by measuring the area in the verticaland horizontal axis and obtaining the total area of the wound. Closureis then estimated by establishing the differences between the initialwound area (day 0) and that of post treatment (day 8). The wound area onday 1 is 64 mm2, the corresponding size of the dermal punch.Calculations are made using the following formula:

[Open area on day 8]−[Open area on day I]/[Open area on day 1]

[1320] Specimens are fixed in 10% buffered formalin and paraffinembedded blocks are sectioned perpendicular to the wound surface (5 mm)and cut using an Olympus microtome. Routine hematoxylin-eosin (H&E)staining is performed on cross-sections of bisected wounds. Histologicexamination of the wounds allows assessment of whether the healingprocess and the morphologic appearance of the repaired skin is improvedby treatment with a polypeptide of the invention. A calibrated lensmicrometer is used by a blinded observer to determine the distance ofthe wound gap.

[1321] Experimental data are analyzed using an unpaired t test. A pvalue of <0.05 is considered significant.

[1322] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 51 Lymphadema Animal Model

[1323] The purpose of this experimental approach is to create anappropriate and consistent lymphedema model for testing the therapeuticeffects of a polypeptide of the invention in lymphangiogenesis andre-establishment of the lymphatic circulatory system in the rat hindlimb. Effectiveness is measured by swelling volume of the affected limb,quantification of the amount of lymphatic vasculature, total bloodplasma protein, and histopathology. Acute lymphedema is observed for7-10 days. Perhaps more importantly, the chronic progress of the edemais followed for up to 3-4 weeks.

[1324] Prior to beginning surgery, blood sample is drawn for proteinconcentration analysis. Male rats weighing approximately ˜350 g aredosed with Pentobarbital. Subsequently, the right legs are shaved fromknee to hip. The shaved area is swabbed with gauze soaked in 70% EtOH.Blood is drawn for serum total protein testing. Circumference andvolumetric measurements are made prior to injecting dye into paws aftermarking 2 measurement levels (0.5 cm above heel, at mid-pt of dorsalpaw). The intradermal dorsum of both right and left paws are injectedwith 0.05 ml of 1% Evan's Blue. Circumference and volumetricmeasurements are then made following injection of dye into paws.

[1325] Using the knee joint as a landmark, a mid-leg inguinal incisionis made circumferentially allowing the femoral vessels to be located.Forceps and hemostats are used to dissect and separate the skin flaps.After locating the femoral vessels, the lymphatic vessel that runs alongside and underneath the vessel(s) is located. The main lymphatic vesselsin this area are then electrically coagulated suture ligated.

[1326] Using a microscope, muscles in back of the leg (near thesemitendinosis and adductors) are bluntly dissected. The popliteal lymphnode is then located. The 2 proximal and 2 distal lymphatic vessels anddistal blood supply of the popliteal node are then and ligated bysuturing. The popliteal lymph node, and any accompanying adipose tissue,is then removed by cutting connective tissues.

[1327] Care is taken to control any mild bleeding resulting from thisprocedure. After lymphatics are occluded, the skin flaps are sealed byusing liquid skin (Vetbond) (AJ Buck). The separated skin edges aresealed to the underlying muscle tissue while leaving a gap of ˜0.5 cmaround the leg. Skin also may be anchored by suturing to underlyingmuscle when necessary.

[1328] To avoid infection, animals are housed individually with mesh (nobedding). Recovering animals are checked daily through the optimaledematous peak, which typically occurred by day 5-7. The plateauedematous peak are then observed. To evaluate the intensity of thelymphedema, the circumference and volumes of 2 designated places on eachpaw before operation and daily for 7 days are measured. The effectplasma proteins on lymphedema is determined and whether protein analysisis a useful testing perimeter is also investigated. The weights of bothcontrol and edematous limbs are evaluated at 2 places. Analysis isperformed in a blind manner.

[1329] Circumference Measurements: Under brief gas anesthetic to preventlimb movement, a cloth tape is used to measure limb circumference.Measurements are done at the ankle bone and dorsal paw by 2 differentpeople then those 2 readings are averaged. Readings are taken from bothcontrol and edematous limbs.

[1330] Volumetric Measurements: On the day of surgery, animals areanesthetized with Pentobarbital and are tested prior to surgery. Fordaily volumetrics animals are under brief halothane anesthetic (rapidimmobilization and quick recovery), both legs are shaved and equallymarked using waterproof marker on legs. Legs are first dipped in water,then dipped into instrument to each marked level then measured by Buxcoedema software(ChenVictor). Data is recorded by one person, while theother is dipping the limb to marked area.

[1331] Blood-plasma protein measurements: Blood is drawn, spun, andserum separated prior to surgery and then at conclusion for totalprotein and Ca2+ comparison.

[1332] Limb Weight Comparison: After drawing blood, the animal isprepared for tissue collection. The limbs are amputated using aquillitine, then both experimental and control legs are cut at theligature and weighed. A second weighing is done as the tibio-cacanealjoint is disarticulated and the foot is weighed.

[1333] Histological Preparations: The transverse muscle located behindthe knee (popliteal) area is dissected and arranged in a metal mold,filled with freezegel, dipped into cold methylbutane, placed intolabeled sample bags at −80EC until sectioning. Upon sectioning, themuscle is observed under fluorescent microscopy for lymphatics.

[1334] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 52 Suppression of TNF alpha-induced adhesion molecule expressionby a Polypeptide of the Invention

[1335] The recruitment of lymphocytes to areas of inflammation andangiogenesis involves specific receptor-ligand interactions between cellsurface adhesion molecules (CAMs) on lymphocytes and the vascularendothelium. The adhesion process, in both normal and pathologicalsettings, follows a multi-step cascade that involves intercellularadhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1), and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (E-selectin)expression on endothelial cells (EC). The expression of these moleculesand others on the vascular endothelium determiines the efficiency withwhich leukocytes may adhere to the local vasculature and extravasateinto the local tissue during the development of an inflammatoryresponse. The local concentration of cytokines and growth factorparticipate in the modulation of the expression of these CAMs.

[1336] Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), a potent proinflammatorycytokine, is a stimulator of all three CAMs on endothelial cells and maybe involved in a wide variety of inflammatory responses, often resultingin a pathological outcome.

[1337] The potential of a polypeptide of the invention to mediate asuppression of TNF-a induced CAM expression can be examined. A modifiedELISA assay which uses ECs as a solid phase absorbent is employed tomeasure the amount of CAM expression on TNF-a treated ECs whenco-stimulated with a member of the FGF family of proteins.

[1338] To perform the experiment, human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC) cultures are obtained from pooled cord harvests and maintainedin growth medium (EGM-2; Clonetics, San Diego, Calif.) supplemented with10% FCS and 1% penicillin/streptomycin in a 37 degree C. humidifiedincubator containing 5% CO₂. HUVECs are seeded in 96-well plates atconcentrations of 1×10⁴ cells/well in EGM medium at 37 degree C. for18-24 hrs or until confluent. The monolayers are subsequently washed 3times with a serum-free solution of RPMI-1640 supplemented with 100 U/mlpenicillin and 100 mg/ml streptomycin, and treated with a given cytokineand/or growth factor(s) for 24 h at 37 degree C. Following incubation,the cells are then evaluated for CAM expression.

[1339] Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial cells (HUVECs) are grown in astandard 96 well plate to confluence. Growth medium is removed from thecells and replaced with 90 ul of 199 Medium (10% FBS). Samples fortesting and positive or negative controls are added to the plate intriplicate (in 10 ul volumes). Plates are incubated at 37 degree C. foreither 5 h (selectin and integrin expression) or 24 h (integrinexpression only). Plates are aspirated to remove medium and 100 ll of0.1% paraformaldehyde-PBS(with Ca++ and Mg++) is added to each well.Plates are held at 4° C. for 30 min.

[1340] Fixative is then removed from the wells and wells are washed 1×with PBS(+Ca,Mg)+0.5% BSA and drained. Do not allow the wells to dry.Add 10 μl of diluted primary antibody to the test and control wells.Anti-ICAM-1-Biotin, Anti-VCAM-1-Biotin and Anti-E-selectin-Biotin areused at a concentration of 10 μg/ml (1:10 dilution of 0.1 mg/ml stockantibody). Cells are incubated at 37° C. for 30 min. in a humidifiedenvironment. Wells are washed X3 with PBS(+Ca,Mg)+0.5% BSA.

[1341] Then add 20 μl of diluted ExtrAvidin-Alkaline Phosphotase(1:5,000 dilution) to each well and incubated at 37° C. for 30 min.Wells are washed X3 with PBS(+Ca,Mg)+0.5% BSA. 1 tablet of p-NitrophenolPhosphate pNPP is dissolved in 5 ml of glycine buffer (pH 10.4). 100 μlof pNPP substrate in glycine buffer is added to each test well. Standardwells in triplicate are prepared from the working dilution of theExtrAvidin-Alkaline Phosphotase in glycine buffer: 1:5,000(10⁰)>10^(−0.5)>10⁻¹>10^(−1.5). 5 μl of each dilution is added totriplicate wells and the resulting AP content in each well is 5.50 ng,1.74 ng, 0.55 ng, 0.18 ng. 100 μl of pNNP reagent must then be added toeach of the standard wells. The plate must be incubated at 37° C. for4h. A volume of 50 μl of 3M NaOH is added to all wells. The results arequantified on a plate reader at 405 rn. The background subtractionoption is used on blank wells filled with glycine buffer only. Thetemplate is set up to indicate the concentration of AP-conjugate in eachstandard well [5.50 ng; 1.74 ng; 0.55 ng; 0.18 ng]. Results areindicated as amount of bound AP-conjugate in each sample.

[1342] The studies described in this example tested activity of apolypeptide of the invention. However, one skilled in the art couldeasily modify the exemplified studies to test the activity ofpolynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), agonists, and/or antagonists ofthe invention.

Example 53 Assay for the Stimulation of Bone Marrow CD34+CellProliferation

[1343] This assay is based on the ability of human CD34+ to proliferatein the presence of hematopoietic growth factors and evaluates theability of isolated polypeptides expressed in mammalian cells tostimulate proliferation of CD34+cells.

[1344] It has been previously shown that most mature precursors willrespond to only a single signal. More immature precursors require atleast two signals to respond. Therefore, to test the effect ofpolypeptides on hematopoietic activity of a wide range of progenitorcells, the assay contains a given polypeptide in the presence or absenceof other hematopoietic growth factors. Isolated cells are cultured for 5days in the presence of Stem Cell Factor (SCF) in combination withtested sample. SCF alone has a very limited effect on the proliferationof bone marrow (BM) cells, acting in such conditions only as a“survival” factor. However, combined with any factor exhibitingstirnulatory effect on these cells (e.g., IL-3), SCF will cause asynergistic effect. Therefore, if the tested polypeptide has astimulatory effect on a hematopoietic progenitors, such activity can beeasily detected. Since normal BM cells have a low level of cyclingcells, it is likely that any inhibitory effect of a given polypeptide,or agonists or antagonists thereof, might not be detected. Accordingly,assays for an inhibitory effect on progenitors is preferably tested incells that are first subjected to in vitro stimulation with SCF+IL+3,and then contacted with the compound that is being evaluated forinhibition of such induced proliferation.

[1345] Briefly, CD34+cells are isolated using methods known in the art.The cells are thawed and resuspended in medium (QBSF 60 serum-freemedium with 1% L-glutamine (500 ml) Quality Biological, Inc.,Gaithersburg, Md. Cat# 160-204-101). After several gentle centrifugationsteps at 200×g, cells are allowed to rest for one hour. The cell countis adjusted to 2.5×10⁵ cells/ml. During this time, 100 μl of sterilewater is added to the peripheral wells of a 96-well plate. The cytokinesthat can be tested with a given polypeptide in this assay is rhSCF (R&DSystems, Minneapolis, Minn., Cat# 255-SC) at 50 ng/ml alone and incombination with rhSCF and rhIL-3 (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, Minn., Cat#203-ML) at 30 ng/ml. After one hour, 10 μl of prepared cytokines, 50 μlSID (supernatants at 1:2 dilution=50 μl) and 20 μl of diluted cells areadded to the media which is already present in the wells to allow for afinal total volume of 100 μl. The plates are then placed in a 37° C./5%CO₂ incubator for five days.

[1346] Eighteen hours before the assay is harvested, 0.5 μCi/well of[3H] Thymidine is added in a 10 μl volume to each well to determine theproliferation rate. The experiment is terminated by harvesting the cellsfrom each 96-well plate to a filtermat using the Tomtec Harvester 96.After harvesting, the filtermats are dried, trimmed and placed intoOmniFilter assemblies consisting of one OmniFilter plate and oneOmniFilter Tray. 60 μl Microscint is added to each well and the platesealed with TopSeal-A press-on sealing film A bar code 15 sticker isaffixed to the first plate for counting. The sealed plates is thenloaded and the level of radioactivity determined via the Packard TopCount and the printed data collected for analysis. The level ofradioactivity reflects the amount of cell proliferation.

[1347] The studies described in this example test the activity of agiven polypeptide to stimulate bone marrow CD34+cell proliferation. Oneskilled in the art could easily modify the exemplified studies to testthe activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy), antibodies,agonists, and/or antagonists and fragments and variants thereof. As anonlimiting example, potential antagonists tested in this assay would beexpected to inhibit cell proliferation in the presence of cytokinesand/or to increase the inhibition of cell proliferation in the presenceof cytokines and a given polypeptide. In contrast, potential agoniststested in this assay would be expected to enhance cell proliferationand/or to decrease the inhibition of cell proliferation in the presenceof cytokines and a given polypeptide.

[1348] The ability of a gene to stimulate the proliferation of bonemarrow CD34+cells indicates that polynucleotides and polypeptidescorresponding to the gene are useful for the diagnosis and treatment ofdisorders affecting the immune system and hematopoiesis. Representativeuses are described in the “Immune Activity” and “Infectious Disease”sections above, and elsewhere herein.

Example 54 Assay for Extracellular Matrix Enhanced Cell Response (EMECR)

[1349] The objective of the Extracellular Matrix Enhanced Cell Response(EMECR) assay is to identify gene products (e.g., isolated polypeptides)that act on the hematopoietic stem cells in the context of theextracellular matrix (ECM) induced signal.

[1350] Cells respond to the regulatory factors in the context ofsignal(s) received from the surrounding microenvironment. For example,fibroblasts, and endothelial and epithelial stem cells fail to replicatein the absence of signals from the ECM. Hematopoietic stem cells canundergo self-renewal in the bone marrow, but not in in vitro suspensionculture. The ability of stem cells to undergo self-renewal in vitro isdependent upon their interaction with the stromal cells and the ECMprotein fibronectin (fn). Adhesion of cells to fn is mediated by theα₅.β₁ and α₄.β₁ integrin receptors, which are expressed by human andmouse hematopoietic stem cells. The factor(s) which integrate with theECM environment and responsible for stimulating stem cell self-renewalhas not yet been identified. Discovery of such factors should be ofgreat interest in gene therapy and bone marrow transplant applications

[1351] Briefly, polystyrene, non tissue culture treated, 96-well platesare coated with fn fragment at a coating concentration of 0.2 μg/cm².Mouse bone marrow cells are plated (1,000 cells/well) in 0.2 ml ofserum-free medium. Cells cultured in the presence of IL-3 (5 ng/ml)+SCF(50 ng/ml) would serve as the positive control, conditions under whichlittle self-renewal but pronounced differentiation of the stem cells isto be expected. Gene products are tested with appropriate negativecontrols in the presence and absence of SCF(5.0 ng/ml), where testfactor supemates represent 10% of the total assay volume. The platedcells are then allowed to grow by incubating in a low oxygen environment(5% CO₂, 7% O₂, and 88% N₂) tissue culture incubator for 7 days. Thenumber of proliferating cells within the wells is then quantitated bymeasuring thymidine incorporation into cellular DNA. Verification of thepositive hits in the assay will require phenotypic characterization ofthe cells, which can be accomplished by scaling up of the culture systemand using appropriate antibody reagents against cell surface antigensand FACScan.

[1352] One skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplifiedstudies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy),antibodies, agonists, and/or antagonists and fragments and variantsthereof.

[1353] If a particular gene product is found to be a stimulator ofhematopoietic progenitors, polynucleotides and polypeptidescorresponding to the gene may be useful for the diagnosis and treatmentof disorders affecting the immune system and hematopoiesis.Representative uses are described in the “Immune Activity” and“Infectious Disease” sections above, and elsewhere herein. The geneproduct may also be useful in the expansion of stem cells and committedprogenitors of various blood lineages, and in the differentiation and/orproliferation of various cell types.

[1354] Additionally, the polynucleotides and/or polypeptides of the geneof interest and/or agonists and/or antagonists thereof, may also beemployed to inhibit the proliferation and differentiation ofhematopoietic cells and therefore may be employed to protect bone marrowstem cells from chemotherapeutic agents during chemotherapy. Thisantiproliferative effect may allow administration of higher doses ofchemotherapeutic agents and, therefore, more effective chemotherapeutictreatment.

[1355] Moreover, polynucleotides and polypeptides corresponding to thegene of interest may also be useful for the treatment and diagnosis ofhematopoietic related disorders such as, for example, anemia,pancytopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or leukemia since stromalcells are important in the production of cells of hematopoieticlineages. The uses include bone marrow cell ex-vivo culture, bone marrowtransplantation, bone marrow reconstitution, radiotherapy orchemotherapy of neoplasia.

Example 55 Human Dermal Fibroblast and Aortic Smooth Muscle CellProliferation

[1356] The polypeptide of interest is added to cultures of normal humandermal fibroblasts (NHDF) and human aortic smooth muscle cells (AOSMC)and two co-assays are performed with each sample. The first assayexamines the effect of the polypeptide of interest on the proliferationof normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) or aortic smooth muscle cells(AoSMC). Aberrant growth of fibroblasts or smooth muscle cells is a partof several pathological processes, including fibrosis, and restenosis.The second assay examines IL6 production by both NHDF and SMC. IL6production is an indication of functional activation. Activated cellswill have increased production of a number of cytokines and otherfactors, which can result in a proinflammatory or immunomodulatoryoutcome. Assays are run with and without co-TNFa stimulation, in orderto check for costimulatory or inhibitory activity.

[1357] Briefly, on day 1,96-well black plates are set up with 1000cells/well (NHDF) or 2000 cells/well (AOSMC) in 100 μl culture media.NHDF culture media contains: Clonetics FB basal media, 1 mg/ml HFGF, 5mg/ml insulin, 50 mg/ml gentamycin, 2% FBS, while AoSMC culture mediacontains Clonetics SM basal media, 0.5 μg/ml hEGF, 5 mg/ml insulin, 1μg/ml hFGF, 50 mg/ml gentamycin, 50 μg/ml Amphotericin B, 5% FBS. Afterincubation @ 37° C. for at least 4-5 hours culture media is aspiratedand replaced with growth arrest media. Growth arrest media for NHDFcontains fibroblast basal media, 50 mg/ml gentamycin, 2% FBS, whilegrowth arrest media for AoSMC contains SM basal media, 50 mg/mlgentamycin, 50 μg/ml Amphotericin B, 0.4% FBS. Incubate at 37C until day2.

[1358] On day 2, serial dilutions and templates of the polypeptide ofinterest are designed which should always include media controls andknown-protein controls. For both stimulation and inhibition experiments,proteins are diluted in growth arrest media. For inhibition experiments,TNFa is added to a final concentration of 2 ng/ml (NHDF) or 5 ng/ml(AoSMC). Then add ⅓ vol media containing controls or supernatants andincubate at 37C/5% CO₂ until day 5.

[1359] Transfer 6011 from each well to another labeled 96-well plate,cover with a plate-sealer, and store at 4C until Day 6 (for IL6 ELISA).To the remaining 100 μl in the cell culture plate, aseptically addAlamar Blue in an amount equal to 10% of the culture volume (10 μl).Return plates to incubator for 3 to 4 hours. Then measure fluorescencewith excitation at 530 nm and emission at 590 nm using the CytoFluor.This yields the growth stimulation/inhibition data.

[1360] On day 5, the IL6 ELISA is performed by coating a 96 well platewith 50-100 ul/well of Anti-Human IL6 Monoclonal antibody diluted inPBS, pH 7.4, incubate ON at room temperature.

[1361] On day 6, empty the plates into the sink and blot on papertowels. Prepare Assay Buffer containing PBS with 4% BSA. Block theplates with 200 μl/well of Pierce Super Block blocking buffer in PBS for1-2 hr and then wash plates with wash buffer (PBS, 0.05% Tween-20). Blotplates on paper towels. Then add 501 μl/well of diluted Anti-Human IL-6Monoclonal, Biotin-labeled antibody at 0.50 mg/ml. Make dilutions ofIL-6 stock in media (30, 10, 3, 1, 0.3, 0 ng/ml). Add duplicate samplesto top row of plate. Cover the plates and incubate for 2 hours at RT onshaker.

[1362] Wash plates with wash buffer and blot on paper towels. DiluteEU-labeled Streptavidin 1:1000 in Assay buffer, and add 100 μl/well.Cover the plate and incubate 1 h at RT. Wash plates with wash buffer.Blot on paper towels.

[1363] Add 100 μl/well of Enhancement Solution. Shake for 5 minutes.Read the plate on the Wallac DELFIA Fluorometer. Readings fromtriplicate samples in each assay were tabulated and averaged.

[1364] A positive result in this assay suggests AoSMC cell proliferationand that the gene product of interest may be involved in dermalfibroblast proliferation and/or smooth muscle cell proliferation. Apositive result also suggests many potential uses of polypeptides,polynucleotides, agonists and/or antagonists of the gene/gene product ofinterest. For example, inflammation and immune responses, wound healing,and angiogenesis, as detailed throughout this specification.Particularly, polypeptides of the gene product and polynucleotides ofthe gene may be used in wound healing and dermal regeneration, as wellas the promotion of vasculargenesis, both of the blood vessels andlymphatics. The growth of vessels can be used in the treatment of, forexample, cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, antagonists ofpolypeptides of the gene product and polynucleotides of the gene may beuseful in treating diseases, disorders, and/or conditions which involveangiogenesis by acting as an anti-vascular (e.g., anti-angiogenesis).These diseases, disorders, and/or conditions are known in the art and/orare described herein, such as, for example, malignancies, solid tumors,benign tumors, for example hemangiomas, acoustic neuromas,neurofibromas, trachomas, and pyogenic granulomas; artherosclericplaques; ocular angiogenic diseases, for example, diabetic retinopathy,retinopathy of prematurity, macular degeneration, corneal graftrejection, neovascular glaucoma, retrolental fibroplasia, rubeosis,retinoblastoma, uvietis and Pterygia (abnormal blood vessel growth) ofthe eye; rheumatoid arthritis; psoriasis; delayed wound healing;endometriosis; vasculogenesis; granulations; hypertrophic scars(keloids); nonunion fractures; scleroderma; trachoma; vascularadhesions; myocardial angiogenesis; coronary collaterals; cerebralcollaterals; arteriovenous malformations; ischemic limb angiogenesis;Osler-Webber Syndrome; plaque neovascularization; telangiectasia;hemophiliac joints; angiofibroma; fibromuscular dysplasia; woundgranulation; Crohn's disease; and atherosclerosis. Moreover, antagonistsof polypeptides of the gene product and polynucleotides of the gene maybe useful in treating anti-hyperproliferative diseases and/oranti-inflammatory known in the art and/or described herein.

[1365] One skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplifiedstudies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy),antibodies, agonists, and/or antagonists and fragments and variantsthereof.

Example 56 Cellular Adhesion Molecule (CAM) Expression on EndothelialCells

[1366] The recruitment of lymphocytes to areas of inflammation andangiogenesis involves specific receptor-ligand interactions between cellsurface adhesion molecules (CAMs) on lymphocytes and the vascularendothelium. The adhesion process, in both normal and pathologicalsettings, follows a multi-step cascade that involves intercellularadhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1), and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (E-selectin)expression on endothelial cells (EC). The expression of these moleculesand others on the vascular endothelium determines the efficiency withwhich leukocytes may adhere to the local vasculature and extravasateinto the local tissue during the development of an inflammatoryresponse. The local concentration of cytokines and growth factorparticipate in the modulation of the expression of these CAMs.

[1367] Briefly, endothelial cells (e.g., Human Umbilical VeinEndothelial cells (HUVECs)) are grown in a standard 96 well plate toconfluence, growth medium is removed from the cells and replaced with100 μl of 199 Medium (10% fetal bovine serum (FBS)). Samples for testingand positive or negative controls are added to the plate in triplicate(in 10 μl volumes). Plates are then incubated at 37° C. for either 5 h(selectin and integrin expression) or 24 h (integrin expression only).Plates are aspirated to remove medium and 100 μl of 0.1%paraformaldehyde-PBS(with Ca++ and Mg++) is added to each well. Platesare held at 4° C. for 30 min. Fixative is removed from the wells andwells are washed 1× with PBS(+Ca,Mg)+0.5% BSA and drained. 10 μl ofdiluted primary antibody is added to the test and control wells.Anti-ICAM-1-Biotin, Anti-VCAM-1-Biotin and Anti-E-selectin-Biotin areused at a concentration of 10 μg/ml (1:10 dilution of 0.1 mg/ml stockantibody). Cells are incubated at 37° C. for 30 min. in a humidifiedenvironment. Wells are washed three times with PBS(+Ca,Mg)+0.5% BSA. 20μl of diluted ExtrAvidin-Alkaline Phosphotase (1:5,000 dilution, referedto herein as the working dilution) are added to each well and incubatedat 37° C. for 30 min. Wells are washed three times with PBS(+Ca,Mg)+0.5%BSA. Dissolve 1 tablet of p-Nitrophenol Phosphate pNPP per 5 ml ofglycine buffer (pH 10.4). 100 μl of pNPP substrate in glycine buffer isadded to each test well. Standard wells in triplicate are prepared fromthe working dilution of the ExtrAvidin-Alkaline Phosphotase in glycinebuffer: 1:5,000 (10⁰)>10^(−0.5)>10⁻¹>10^(−1.5).5 μl of each dilution isadded to triplicate wells and the resulting AP content in each well is5.50 ng, 1.74 ng, 0.55 ng, 0.18 ng. 100 μl of pNNP reagent is then addedto each of the standard wells. The plate is incubated at 37° C. for 4h.A volume of 50 μl of 3M NaOH is added to all wells. The plate is read ona plate reader at 405 nm using the background subtraction option onblank wells filled with glycine buffer only. Additionally, the templateis set up to indicate the concentration of AP-conjugate in each standardwell [5.50 ng; 1.74 ng; 0.55 ng; 0.18 ng]. Results are indicated asamount of bound AP-conjugate in each sample.

Example 57 Alamar Blue Endothelial Cells Proliferation Assay

[1368] This assay may be used to quantitatively determine proteinmediated inhibition of bFGF-induced proliferation of Bovine LymphaticEndothelial Cells (LECs), Bovine Aortic Endothelial Cells (BAECs) orHuman Microvascular Uterine Myometrial Cells (UTMECs). This assayincorporates a fluorometric growth indicator based on detection ofmetabolic activity. A standard Alamar Blue Proliferation Assay isprepared in EGM-2MV with 10 ng/ml of bFGF added as a source ofendothelial cell stimulation. This assay may be used with a variety ofendothelial cells with slight changes in growth medium and cellconcentration. Dilutions of the protein batches to be tested are dilutedas appropriate. Serum-free medium (GIBCO SFM) without bFGF is used as anon-stimulated control and Angiostatin or TSP-1 are included as a knowninhibitory controls.

[1369] Briefly, LEC, BAECs or UTMECs are seeded in growth media at adensity of 5000 to 2000 cells/well in a 96 well plate and placed at 37-Covernight. After the overnight incubation of the cells, the growth mediais removed and replaced with GIBCO EC-SFM. The cells are treated withthe appropriate dilutions of the protein of interest or control proteinsample(s) (prepared in SFM) in triplicate wells with additional bFGF toa concentration of 10 ng/ml. Once the cells have been treated with thesamples, the plate(s) is/are placed back in the 37° C. incubator forthree days. After three days 10 ml of stock alamar blue (Biosource Cat#DAL 1100) is added to each well and the plate(s) is/are placed back inthe 37° C. incubator for four hours. The plate(s) are then read at 530nm excitation and 590 nm emission using the CytoFluor fluorescencereader. Direct output is recorded in relative fluorescence units.

[1370] Alamar blue is an oxidation-reduction indicator that bothfluoresces and changes color in response to chemical reduction of growthmedium resulting from cell growth. As cells grow in culture, innatemetabolic activity results in a chemical reduction of the immediatesurrounding environment. Reduction related to growth causes theindicator to change from oxidized (non-fluorescent blue) form to reduced(fluorescent red) form. i.e. stimulated proliferation will produce astronger signal and inhibited proliferation will produce a weaker signaland the total signal is proportional to the total number of cells aswell as their metabolic activity. The background level of activity isobserved with the starvation medium alone. This is compared to theoutput observed from the positive control samples (bFGF in growthmedium) and protein dilutions.

Example 58 Detection of Inhibition of a Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction

[1371] This assay can be used to detect and evaluate inhibition of aMixed Lymphocyte Reaction (MLR) by gene products (e.g., isolatedpolypeptides). Inhibition of a MLR may be due to a direct effect on cellproliferation and viability, modulation of costimulatory molecules oninteracting cells, modulation of adhesiveness between lymphocytes andaccessory cells, or modulation of cytokine production by accessorycells. Multiple cells may be targeted by these polypeptides since theperipheral blood mononuclear fraction used in this assay includes T, Band natural killer lymphocytes, as well as monocytes and dendriticcells.

[1372] Polypeptides of interest found to inhibit the MLR may findapplication in diseases associated with lymphocyte and monocyteactivation or proliferation. These include, but are not limited to,diseases such as asthma, arthritis, diabetes, inflammatory skinconditions, psoriasis, eczema, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiplesclerosis, glomerulonephritis, inflammatory bowel disease, crohn'sdisease, ulcerative colitis, arteriosclerosis, cirrhosis, graft vs. hostdisease, host vs. graft disease, hepatitis, leukemia and lymphoma.

[1373] Briefly, PBMCs from human donors are purified by density gradientcentrifugation using Lymphocyte Separation Medium (LSM®, density 1.0770g/ml, Organon Teknika Corporation, West Chester, Pa.). PBMCs from twodonors are adjusted to 2×10⁶ cells/ml in RPMI-1640 (Life Technologies,Grand Island, N.Y.) supplemented with 10% FCS and 2 mM glutamine. PBMCsfrom a third donor is adjusted to 2×10⁵ cells/ml. Fifty microliters ofPBMCs from each donor is added to wells of a 96-well round bottommicrotiter plate. Dilutions of test materials (50 μl) is added intriplicate to microtiter wells. Test samples (of the protein ofinterest) are added for final dilution of 1:4; rhuIL-2 (R&D Systems,Minneapolis, Minn., catalog number 202-IL) is added to a finalconcentration of 1 μg/ml; anti-CD4 mAb (R&D Systems, clone 34930.11,catalog number MAB379) is added to a final concentration of 10 μg/ml.Cells are cultured for 7-8 days at 37° C. in 5% CO₂, and 1° C. of [3H]thymidine is added to wells for the last 16 hrs of culture. Cells areharvested and thymidine incorporation determined using a PackardTopCount. Data is expressed as the mean and standard deviation oftriplicate determinations.

[1374] Samples of the protein of interest are screened in separateexperiments and compared to the negative control treatment, anti-CD4mAb, which inhibits proliferation of lymphocytes and the positivecontrol treatment, IL-2 (either as recombinant material or supernatant),which enhances proliferation of lymphocytes.

[1375] One skilled in the art could easily modify the exemplifiedstudies to test the activity of polynucleotides (e.g., gene therapy),antibodies, agonists, and/or antagonists and fragments and variantsthereof.

[1376] It will be clear that the invention may be practiced otherwisethan as particularly described in the foregoing description andexamples. Numerous modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings and, therefore, are withinthe scope of the appended claims.

[1377] The entire disclosure of each document cited (including patents,patent applications, journal articles, abstracts, laboratory manuals,books, or other disclosures) in the Background of the Invention,Detailed Description, and Examples is hereby incorporated herein byreference. Further, the hard copy of the sequence listing submittedherewith and the corresponding computer readable form are bothincorporated herein by reference in their entireties. Additionally, thecontents of International Patent Application No. PCT/US00/22350 and ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 60/148,759 are all hereby incorporatedby reference in their entirety.

1 61 1 733 DNA Homo sapiens 1 gggatccgga gcccaaatct tctgacaaaactcacacatg cccaccgtgc ccagcacctg 60 aattcgaggg tgcaccgtca gtcttcctcttccccccaaa acccaaggac accctcatga 120 tctcccggac tcctgaggtc acatgcgtggtggtggacgt aagccacgaa gaccctgagg 180 tcaagttcaa ctggtacgtg gacggcgtggaggtgcataa tgccaagaca aagccgcggg 240 aggagcagta caacagcacg taccgtgtggtcagcgtcct caccgtcctg caccaggact 300 ggctgaatgg caaggagtac aagtgcaaggtctccaacaa agccctccca acccccatcg 360 agaaaaccat ctccaaagcc aaagggcagccccgagaacc acaggtgtac accctgcccc 420 catcccggga tgagctgacc aagaaccaggtcagcctgac ctgcctggtc aaaggcttct 480 atccaagcga catcgccgtg gagtgggagagcaatgggca gccggagaac aactacaaga 540 ccacgcctcc cgtgctggac tccgacggctccttcttcct ctacagcaag ctcaccgtgg 600 acaagagcag gtggcagcag gggaacgtcttctcatgctc cgtgatgcat gaggctctgc 660 acaaccacta cacgcagaag agcctctccctgtctccggg taaatgagtg cgacggccgc 720 gactctagag gat 733 2 5 PRT Homosapiens Site (3) Xaa equals any of the twenty naturally ocurring L-aminoacids 2 Trp Ser Xaa Trp Ser 1 5 3 86 DNA Artificial Sequence Primer_BindSynthetic sequence with 4 tandem copies of the GAS binding site found inthe IRF1 promoter (Rothman et al., Immunity 1457-468 (1994)), 18nucleotides complementary to the SV40 early promoter, and a Xho Irestriction site. 3 gcgcctcgag atttccccga aatctagatt tccccgaaatgatttccccg aaatgatttc 60 cccgaaatat ctgccatctc aattag 86 4 27 DNAArtificial Sequence Primer_Bind Synthetic sequence complementary to theSV40 promter; includes a Hind III restriction site. 4 gcggcaagctttttgcaaag cctaggc 27 5 271 DNA Artificial Sequence Protein_BindSynthetic promoter for use in biological assays; includes GAS bindingsites found in the IRF1 promoter (Rothman et al., Immunity 1457-468(1994)). 5 ctcgagattt ccccgaaatc tagatttccc cgaaatgatt tccccgaaatgatttccccg 60 aaatatctgc catctcaatt agtcagcaac catagtcccg cccctaactccgcccatccc 120 gcccctaact ccgcccagtt ccgcccattc tccgccccat ggctgactaattttttttat 180 ttatgcagag gccgaggccg cctcggcctc tgagctattc cagaagtagtgaggaggctt 240 ttttggaggc ctaggctttt gcaaaaagct t 271 6 32 DNAArtificial Sequence Primer_Bind Synthetic primer complementary to humangenomic EGR-1 promoter sequence (Sakamoto et al., Oncogene 6867-871(1991)); includes a Xho I restriction site. 6 gcgctcgagg gatgacagcgatagaacccc gg 32 7 31 DNA Artificial Sequence Primer_Bind Syntheticprimer complementary to human genomic EGR-1 promoter sequence (Sakamotoet al., Oncogene 6867-871 (1991)); includes a Hind III restriction site.7 gcgaagcttc gcgactcccc ggatccgcct c 31 8 12 DNA Homo sapiens 8ggggactttc cc 12 9 73 DNA Artificial Sequence Primer_Bind Syntheticprimer with 4 tandem copies of the NF-KB binding site (GGGGACTTTCCC), 18nucleotides complementary to the 5′ end of the SV40 early promotersequence, and a XhoI restriction site. 9 gcggcctcga ggggactttcccggggactt tccggggact ttccgggact ttccatcctg 60 ccatctcaat tag 73 10 256DNA Artificial Sequence Protein_Bind Synthetic promoter for use inbiological assays; includes NF-KB binding sites. 10 ctcgaggggactttcccggg gactttccgg ggactttccg ggactttcca tctgccatct 60 caattagtcagcaaccatag tcccgcccct aactccgccc atcccgcccc taactccgcc 120 cagttccgcccattctccgc cccatggctg actaattttt tttatttatg cagaggccga 180 ggccgcctcggcctctgagc tattccagaa gtagtgagga ggcttttttg gaggcctagg 240 cttttgcaaaaagctt 256 11 2247 DNA Homo sapiens 11 cagggacaca gcagcgtccg gcgagatgaaggcgcttggg gctgtcctgc ttgccctctt 60 gctgtgcggg cggccaggga gagggcagacacagcaggag gaagaggaag aggacgagga 120 ccacgggcca gatgactacg acgaggaagatgaggatgag gtggaagagg aggagaccaa 180 caggctccct ggtggcagga gcagagtgctgctgcggtgc tacacctgca agtccctgcc 240 cagggacgag cgctgcaacc tgacgcagaactgctcacat ggccagacct gcacaaccct 300 cattgcccac gggaacaccg agtcaggcctcctgaccacc cactccacgt ggtgcacaga 360 cagctgccag cccatcacca agacggtggaggggacccag gtgaccatga cctgctgcca 420 gtccagcctg tgcaatgtcc caccctggcaaagctcccga gtccaggacc caacaggcaa 480 gggggcaggc ggcccccggg gcagctccgaaactgtgggc gcagccctcc tgctcaacct 540 ccttgccggc cttggagcaa tgggggccaggagaccctga cccacggccc ctccccaccc 600 ccacccggct cacccccggc cctgccagcactctgtctgg taccttcccc tcctgcccct 660 gcaccagctt tggagaatgg atttggagtgtcttgggcga tccagccagc gcaggccccc 720 ggcccggttg cttcctcagt tcccggctgtgtccttggtg tcctttctcc accacctgtg 780 agcagcaaga ctgccgcacg tgggcgctgggtccagacct cggctgccac gtcccaggac 840 ctgcagccct cacgggggct ggggatccccatcagcacag ccaggcagag atgataccca 900 ccacacacct gggggccccc acacccagtcctcaccctta acttctgcca tgggaatttc 960 tccatctgca gcagtcacac gggcccaccctgcccttccc caggtcggcc tctccgctgt 1020 ctggagggaa ggggatttgg agggaggctgtcgtcgcccc caggaaagac gggcctgggg 1080 gaggcgggac agtgggagag gcgcgctgaggatgagaggg cacagggagg tgggttgggg 1140 tgaggccaca tgcggagggg cggggcggggcggggctggg gggacaggca ccaagtatga 1200 agaggatggg gccagcgggg cctgtctggctgtggcgtga gcaccgctat gggagaccct 1260 ggcttggaaa gtgaacttgc agccttggatggggaagggc cagatgctgg gtgggtgcct 1320 gtcaccttga ggtgaccatc tagggtcagtacctgctggg cttaggacag cgcctgaggc 1380 tgggaatacc tgtctctgct ctagcagaggctaaagcagg ctagagcagt ggaggggtgg 1440 agttgatgaa aggagaggag tagatgagatggaatttttc cagcctcatc ctggcctgcc 1500 ctctagactc cagtccccaa gccctcagcctagtgggtgt catggatgga tctgggggtg 1560 tcagacaggc taccctgtgc cagggagggggcagaatggg cctgcagctt cctgcagagg 1620 aagcaggact gggtagcaga gccgggaaggtgggtggccc attacagggg ggtccccagg 1680 gtgtcctctg gcagggctgt gactgctgcaagctctgcct tcaccagtag ctggtgccag 1740 gacagagctc tgggacagca ggcagaggccgagcctgggc cacagctcag ccactgactt 1800 gggtatcagt ttccccttct gagaagtacagagtgagact taaagaaccc ctagatcccc 1860 accagttcaa cactccatta actgggaagcccagagtcct gtccggcctg ccaagttcat 1920 cctggtggac agcgggaggc ctccgctaactgttctcttc ttttccttat taataaaaca 1980 cacaatgcct agctgggggg tcggaaggcaaatgccctag atggtggggt cacgtctttc 2040 tccttctcct tcctccttct gctggctgaagtgatgactg gagctcagca accactttgc 2100 accatgaggc agcactgagc acggtagggcagcctggtga gaggggccta gctcgctgcc 2160 gacagaagtc actgcctacc tcagggtccccttacctggg tgggaaataa atttctgctg 2220 tgttgaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaa 224712 2644 DNA Homo sapiens 12 ccgggtcgac ccacgcgtcc gacctggcct gctggagcgcatggtggagg cgctccgcgc 60 aggaagcgca cgtctggtgg ccgccccggt tgccacggccaaccctgcca ggtgcctggc 120 cctgaacgtc agcctgcgag agtggaccgc ccgctatggcgcagcccccg ccgcgccccg 180 ctgcgacgcc ctggacggag atgctgtggt gctcctgcgcgcccgcgacc tcttcaacct 240 ctcggcgccc ctggcccggc cggtgggcac cagcctctttctgcagaccg cccttcgcgg 300 ctgggcggtg cagctgctgg acttgacctt cgccgcggcgcgccagcccc cgctggccac 360 ggcccacgcg cgctggaagg ctgagcgcga gggacgcgctcggcgggcgg cgctgctccg 420 cgcgctgggc atccgcctag tgagctggga aggcgggcggctggagtggt tcggctgcaa 480 caaggagacc acgcgctgct tcggaaccgt ggtgggcgacacgcccgcct acctctacga 540 ggagcgctgg acgcccccct gctgcctgcg cgcgctgcgcgagaccgccc gctatgtggt 600 gggcgtgctg gaggctgcgg gcgtgcgcta ctggctcgagggcggctcac tgctgggggc 660 cgcccgccac ggggacatca tcccatggga ctacgacgtggacctgggca tctacttgga 720 ggacgtgggc aactgcgagc agctgcgggg ggcagaggccggctcggtgg tggatgagcg 780 cggcttcgta tgggagaagg cggtcgaggg cgactttttccgcgtgcagt acagcgaaag 840 caaccacttg cacgtggacc tgtggccctt ctacccccgcaatggcgtca tgaccaagga 900 cacgtggctg gaccaccggc aggatgtgga gtttcccgagcacttcctgc agccgctggt 960 gcccctgccc tttgccggct tcgtggcgca ggcgcctaacaactaccgcc gcttcctgga 1020 gctcaagttc gggcccgggg tcatcgagaa cccccagtaccccaacccgg cactgctgag 1080 tctgacggga agcggctgaa gccctgataa cctcgcctttgtttttcggg ggtctgtctg 1140 gatgtggaga agctctgtgt gagcggtgag gggtggagggatgtcgcgga gaggggaagg 1200 gggaaactga ccaagaaaga aattctaagg agagcatgagagaaggctgg cattggcagg 1260 aggagagcac caggacgagg atgggaagcg acctccagatttatcaaatg gtcatgccca 1320 ctgggagccg tggatatgcg tggggacatc ctgggtcatctcagtcatgg agggagacgg 1380 ggatgtcacg ccgtcccgca gggcccagca cagccccagacccgaaaaaa gtgttctgcc 1440 caagattccg agagccctgc gctctagggc aggggcagagttttggaaac agtgcaggct 1500 ctggagccag actggcgaga ttcaaatcct ggctctatcgcttcggagcc aggtgggcct 1560 gggggggcgt cgcagtctct ctgtgcctca gttgcttccaggatgcggga cccttggctg 1620 caggggttgc ttccgccact agagggcgcg ccggtcccgctcctggtggc ccactgtggc 1680 tgcccggcga cagtacgccc agggcctgtg ttccatagccatctactctc ttgagccttt 1740 ggacttctct ccaagcccct gtgggaggcg gacagcagtgaccacctccc cttcttttgg 1800 actgcgacct ccttccctcc tgggagagcc ctgtgacctgcatgctactc ttaactgttc 1860 tattcaagac tgaatagaag tatttcagtc ttgcagaggaggaaatgctc agagctccga 1920 ggtgcggctg tggtcgagaa ccgggtgctg ggccgggcgcgggggctcac gcctgtaatc 1980 ccagcacttt gggaggccga ggtgggagga tcgcttgagcccaggagtct gagaccagcc 2040 tcggcaacat gccaagaccc cgtctctatt tttaaaaaagaaaaagaacc gacttctgaa 2100 tcgcagctcc actcatgact aatacctcat tatttcagctgtctgcacct aattccccac 2160 ttgcacggca gtgtagacaa taaccatagc tcacactcactgagcaccta ctgggtacca 2220 ggcaccattc tcagtgtttc acctggatca actaatgcgtccctcacctc agccctctga 2280 agtgacagct gctattattt tcattacaca gatgaaaaagctgaggccag aatcgtgaag 2340 tcacttgctc aaggtcaggc agcttaggaa ggggcagatcgggggcttga acccaggtgg 2400 tcaggctctg gagcccacaa ttgtcttacc cactatgcccctctctagtc atggtcccca 2460 agaggggctt ggagacccac ttagcaggtg aaagcaatggcagccttcct tatttgatta 2520 tgcacctaag aataaatggt atttgggcat gtattcccaatatgtgtata tttatttata 2580 aatatataca gatactatta tctgtatgtt agtaataaagcttaaattat tccattttaa 2640 aatt 2644 13 1824 DNA Homo sapiens 13ctctgcatct gcctgcctcg ggcagaggag ggctaccctg gggctgagag ttcacctgtc 60tcaggaacca cctgagccca cagatcctgt gggcagcggc cagggcagcc atggcttggg 120caagtaggct gggcctgctg ctggcactgc tgctgcccgt ggtcggtgcc tccacgccag 180gcaccgtggt ccgactcaac aaggcagcat tgagctacgt gtctgaaatt gggaaagccc 240ctctccagcg ggccctgcag gtcactgtcc ctcatttcct ggactggagt ggagaggcgc 300ttcagcccac caggatccgg attctgaatg tccatgtgcc ccgcctccac ctgaaattca 360ttgctggttt cggagtgcgc ctgctggcag cagctaattt tactttcaag gtctttcgcg 420ccccagagcc cctggagctg acgctgcctg tggaactgct ggctgacacc cgcgtgaccc 480agagctccat caggacccct gtggtcagca tctctgcctg ctctttattc tcgggccacg 540ccaacgagtt tgatggcagt aacagcacct cccacgcgct gctggtcctg gtgcagaagc 600acattaaagc tgtcttgagt aacaagctgt gcctgagcat ctccaacctg gtgcagggtg 660tcaatgtcca cctgggcacc ttaattggcc tcaaccccgt gggtcctgag tcccagatcc 720gctattccat ggtcagtgtg cccactgtca ccagtgacta catttccctg gaagtcaatg 780ctgttctctt cctgctgggc aagcccatca tcctgcccac ggatgccacc ccttttgtgt 840tgccaaggca tgtgggtacc gagggctcca tggccaccgt gggcctctcc cagcagctgt 900ttgactctgc gctcctgctg ctgcagaagg ccggtgccct caacctggac atcacagggc 960agctgaggtc ggatgacaac ctgctgaaca cctctgctct gggccggctc atcccggagg 1020tggcccgcca gtttcccgag cccatgcctg tggtgctcaa ggtgcggctg ggtgccacac 1080ctgtggccat gctccacaca aacaacgcca ccctgcggct gcagcccttc gtggaggtcc 1140tggccacagc ctccaactcg gctttccagt ccctcttctc cctggatgtg gtagtgaact 1200tgagactcca gctctctgtg tccaaggtga agcttcaggg gaccacgtct gtgctggggg 1260atgtccagct cacggtggcc tcctccaacg tgggcttcat tgatacagat caggtgcgca 1320cactgatggg caccgttttt gagaagcccc tgctggacca tctcaatgct ctcttggcca 1380tgggaattgc cctccctggt gtggtcaacc tccactatgt gcccctgaga tctttgtcta 1440tgagggctac gtggtgatat ccagtggact cttctaccag agctgaggca agaccactgg 1500gaggcctgag agtgggccag ctcgctgctc aggcgaattt ctcatttcaa gccactgggg 1560aaactgaggc aaaaccatac ttagtcatca ccaacaagct ggactgctta gctgggctgt 1620tttatcttcc ctgagtgcct gggtctccct ccctcacttc tgccctttcc cttcctcctc 1680ctcttctcct ccctcttccc tcatctcccc cctccttcct ctgccccacc ccagggggga 1740gcagactgct cctccaggct gtatagacct gccctcttgc attaaacaac ttctcttgag 1800ctgcaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaa 1824 14 1060 DNA Homo sapiens 14 ggcacgaggtcacgtgggcg agtcgtagct ttagacaagc ggccagcctt gacacgtgac 60 ccaagccccagcttcgcgca gggatggagc cggaagaggg gacgcccttg tggcggctgc 120 agaagctgccggccgagctg ggcccgcagc ttcttcacaa aataattgat ggcatttgtg 180 gtcgagcttatcctgtgtac caagattatc acactgtttg ggaatcagaa gaatggatgc 240 acgttttagaagatattgcc aaatttttca aagccatagt tggtaaaaac ttacctgatg 300 aagagatatttcagcagttg aatcagttga attcacttca tcaagaaact atcatgaaat 360 gcgtgaaaagtaggaaagat gaaatcaaac aggctctgtc aagagaaata gttgctattt 420 cctctgcacagctacaggat tttgattggc aggtaaagct tgcactttcc agtgacaaga 480 ttgctgcattacgaatgcca cttttaagcc tgcatctaga tgtaaaagaa aatggtgaag 540 taaaaccttattctattgaa atgagtagag aggagctgca gaatctaata cagtccttgg 600 aagcagcgaataaggtggtc ctgcagttga aataactgga aatgatgaat accagtccta 660 tcagattttattgctccaac ttatatggca gagtgaatac tgcgtgttca gaaaccttgt 720 gatgtcttgactgttgcacc aggctgagaa agcagcaata ttgatattat aaagataaaa 780 atttatcaacattccttaac aggaaattac atggttgaga ggaaatgcat aaaatgaaag 840 atgaaaaatctatagtagca gtttatattt tcatgattgt tttgcctcat ttattaaata 900 tttgagaaatctttggagat acatagtttt attgaaagct aaaaataggt tctaaagtaa 960 tgtaaaaatataaagcacaa atatacttga atattgctta aagaattgtg tgaatagcaa 1020 catatattatggatatatac tttgtgatat ttttaaaaaa 1060 15 1860 DNA Homo sapiens 15ccgggtcgac ccacgcgtcc gctcaaattt gtgatattgc atgcagaaga tgacacagat 60gaagccctca gagtccagaa tctgctacaa gatgactttg gtatcaaacc cggaataatc 120tttgctgaga tgccatgtgg cagacagcat ttacagaatt tagatgatgc tgtaaatggg 180tctgcatgga caatcttatt actgactgaa aactttttaa gagatacttg gtgtaatttc 240cagttctata cgtccctaat gaactccgtt aacaggcagc ataaatacaa ctctgttata 300cccatgcggc ccctgaacaa tccccttccc cgagaaagga ctccctttgc cctccaaacc 360atcaatgcct tagaggaaga aagtcgtgga tttcctacac aagtagaaag aatttttcag 420gagtctgtgt ataagacaca acaaactata tggaaagaga caagaaatat ggtacaaaga 480caatttattg cctgagatga aacatataac atgtggctgg ctcttgtttt gtaaaccaaa 540tgattaatct tcacttgaga aagcagtttc taggaaatgt ttaaataaaa gagagtcttc 600accttaaaga aacctatgga gcacaagaaa gataaatttc tgcaggacag tctataaaat 660tgtggtactt tttgatgttt cagtaaactt gacattgtca gagtttcaag gacttttctt 720tcacaatttt cctagttcat ggatatgaaa aaggaattct caatccatat tccttgtatt 780gaaccttgaa caaaaacttg tatgacagac atttttaaaa atgtgacaac acttttattc 840tctgaatttt gatctcaaag gacacagaaa aaaaatggcc ccaggagatc tgatcacact 900tcctcctgag gcacctctca tggatgttgc aataagcatt cgggtactat cacccagaaa 960tatgaattgc cagaatagaa catttagcat gttaagcgtt gatgcatata aaatcagaaa 1020tagatgtgag aatggtggaa ctttttaaaa gaacccagtc aaatgtattt tctgctgaaa 1080tctgcatatt tggaggcatt tcccaccacc gattcacagc ccatttgata gtgtggtagt 1140tagggacttc gtggagtggt gttcagacgt cccctggggc ttaaatctct tcatattagt 1200catcatttgt aactatggct ttatttgcag agcttctaaa aggcgtataa ctgtgtgagt 1260ggccagatat tcacttttta aatcaaaaac ctctcttatg gaagctttaa aagtttccgt 1320cacacacaat tctcttctca ggaagtattt ctcatttagg tcttcaaagt agcctgactg 1380tgtgcatgtg tgtgtgtgat aggttattta taaagacttt ggatagaagg agatgtattt 1440tattacctcc tattctagag ccccatgctc ctaacaagcc agagaggccc caaacaggat 1500tgtttctttc ctccacagcc cttctgccca tctgagattg agggagcatc gtccacttga 1560gatcagggat ggggtggaga atgggtcatg tcatgtaatg agaaaagccc tcttcgggat 1620catgagactt ggttctagtc caatttctgc cactgaggat gaatgtaact gtgggcaaac 1680tatttaccct cctttatctg tgaaatgaaa gggttgaatt gatggatctc taaaggcttt 1740tgtcctctat gaggatgtga aaaactaggg accacaaaag ggaacaagca aaaaagtttg 1800gattcgataa agtgatatgt aatagttgca gaaggcttta tatatgctta taatgaaaag 186016 1350 DNA Homo sapiens SITE (1135) n equals a,t,g, or c 16 ccgggtcgacccacgcgtcc gcggacgcgt ggggtttgag agcctgaaat ccgacttcaa 60 caagtactgggtcccctgcg tctggttcac caacctggcg gcccaggccc ggagggacgg 120 gcgaatacgtgacgatatcg ctctctgtct acttttggaa gagctgaaca agtaccgagc 180 caagtgcagcatgctattcc actatgactg gatcagcatc cccctcgtct acacccaagt 240 ggtgaccatagccgtctact ctttctttgc cctctccctg gttggccgcc agtttgtgga 300 gccagaggcaggggctgcca aacctcagaa gcttctgaag ccaggccagg agccagcccc 360 agccctgggagacccggaca tgtacgtgcc tctcaccact ctgctgcagt tcttcttcta 420 tgctggctggctcaaggtgg ctgaacagat catcaaccca tttggtgagg atgatgacga 480 ctttgagacaaatcagctca tagaccgcaa cttgcaggtg tccctgctat ccgtggacga 540 aatgtaccagaaccttcccc ccgctgagaa ggaccagtac tgggatgagg accagccgca 600 gccaccctacactgtggcca cggcggccga gtctctgcgg ccctcattcc tgggctccac 660 cttcaacctgcgcatgagcg acgaccctga gcagagcctg caggtggagg cgtcccccgg 720 atctggtcggcccgcgcccg ccgcgcagac cccgttgctc ggccgcttcc tgggcgtagg 780 ggcgccctccccggccatca gcctccggaa cttcggccgc gtgcgaggca ccccccgccc 840 cccgcatctgctgcgcttcc gggcggagga gggcggcgac cccgaggccg cagcccgcat 900 cgaggaggaatcggcggagt ccggggacga ggccctggag ccctgagctt ttacaagcct 960 tgttccatggtgagaacggt catctgtgaa ggtggtagaa atggagaatg gatggatttc 1020 aagactttagagaaagaacc cactggtttt atggacagat cttggctcac tgcaacctcc 1080 acctccccaggttcaagaga ttctcatgcc tcagcctctc aagtagctgg gattncaggc 1140 acatgccnccacaccctgct aatttnttgt atgnttagta nagatggggt ttcaccatgt 1200 tggccaggntggtttttgaa ctcctgacnt caagtgatcc acctgcttcg gcctcccaaa 1260 gtgctnggattacaggcgta agccncnatn cctgnccaac cttcnaattt aataaagtct 1320 caanacttttttcccaagna nananaanaa 1350 17 1191 DNA Homo sapiens 17 taatacgactcactataggg aaagctggta cgcctgcagg taccggtccg gaattcccgg 60 gtcgacccacgcgtccgcgg gatcagtggc cgacagcgat gccgtggtga aactagatga 120 tggccatttaaacaactctt tgagctctcc agttcaagcg gacgtgtact tcccacgact 180 gatagttccattttgtgggc acattaaagg tggcatgaga ccaggcaaga aggtgttagt 240 gatgggcatcgtagacctca acccagagag ctttgcaatc agcttgacct gtggggactc 300 agaagaccctcctgccgatg tggcaatcga actcaaagct gtgttcacag atcggcagct 360 actcagaaattcttgtatat ctggggagag gggtgaagaa cagtcagcaa tcccttactt 420 tccattcattccagaccagc cattcagggt ggaaattctt tgtgagcacc cacgtttccg 480 agtgtttgtggatggacacc aactttttga tttttaccat cgcattcaaa cgttatctgc 540 aattgacaccataaagataa atggagacct ccagatcacc aagcttggct gatttaaacc 600 acctctatttcaaataggat cacgtgccac aactatctga ctgttggtct ggaagaagtg 660 tcctagcaagatctggagac ttaaaaagaa aacaaaaaca aatggcaagt ttcacttaag 720 ggtggtttgcccttaagaag aaagctgttg ggacaaagac accgagccat tatacccaga 780 ataaaataatacatttatgc tggattttat tcagaccaaa ctaaaatgga tttgtgatga 840 tttgtgatttggtagcaaat tattcatctt ttcaaagcaa ggcaatgctt agaaacagaa 900 gtgctaaagacacttaaaaa gccaacaaca acggtacagt gaaatcaatg catttctgca 960 ctaaagtggaattgtgtagc acaaccaata ttttagtcag ggtatttaca tagaatgtag 1020 gttgttcaaggtttgacttt ttttttgttt ttgtttttgt ttttgttttt gttttgcaca 1080 gcataatgttaattcagatt gttgaagctt tcttgtagtt atttatttat actcaatgta 1140 tgtattaaagaatgaacaat gtctcaagaa caaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa a 1191 18 806 DNA Homosapiens 18 gctccgggcc gcgctgcccg cgctcctgct gccgttgctg ggcctcgccgctgctgccgt 60 cgcggactgt ccttcatcta cttggattca gttccaagac agttgttacatttttctcca 120 agaagccatc aaagtagaaa gcatagagga tgtcagaaat cagtgtactgaccatggagc 180 ggacatgata agcatacata atgaagaaga aaatgctttt atactggatactttgaaaaa 240 gcaatggaaa ggcccagatg atatcctact aggcatgttt tatgacacagatgatgcgag 300 tttcaagtgg tttgataatt caaatatgac atttgataag tggacagaccaagatgatga 360 tgaggattta gttgacacct gtgcttttct gcacatcaag acaggtgaatggaaaaaagg 420 aaattgtgaa gtttcttctg tggaaggaac actatgcaaa acagctatcccatacaaaag 480 gaaatattta tcagataacc acattttaat atcagcattg gtgattgctagcacggtaat 540 tttgacagtt ttgggagcaa tcatttggtt cctgtacaaa aaacattctgattctcgttt 600 caccacagtt ttttcaaccg caccccaatc accttataat gaagactgtgttttggtagt 660 tggagaagaa aatgaatatc ctgttcaatt tgactaagtt tttggtaatcttgcactaag 720 acatcaacaa aatgccctgg cagagataac ttgggaaaga ttttaatataaaacttgaca 780 ttggaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaa 806 19 2260 DNA Homo sapiensSITE (2225) n equals a,t,g, or c 19 cccacgcgtc cggaggaaca gacttacctcagcaaccctg gcacctccaa cccgacacat 60 gctactgctg ctgctactgc tgccacccctgctctgtggg agagtggggg ctaaggaaca 120 gaaggattac ctgctgacaa tgcagaagtccgtgacggtg caggagggcc tgtgtgtctc 180 tgtgctttgc tccttctcct acccccaaaatggctggact gcctccgatc cagttcatgg 240 ctactggttc cgggcagggg accatgtaagccggaacatt ccagtggcca caaacaaccc 300 agctcgagca gtgcaggagg agactcgggaccgattccac ctccttgggg acccacagaa 360 caaggattgt accctgagca tcagagacaccagagagagt gatgcaggga catacgtctt 420 ttgtgtagag agaggaaata tgaaatggaattataaatat gaccagctct ctgtgaatgt 480 gacagcgtcc caggacctac tgtcaagatacaggctggag gtgccagagt cggtgactgt 540 gcaggagggt ctgtgtgtct ctgtgccctgcagtgtcctt tacccccatt acaactggac 600 tgcctctagc cctgtttatg gatcctggttcaaggaaggg gccgatatac catgggatat 660 tccagtggcc acaaacaccc caagtggaaaagtgcaagag gatacccacg gtcgattcct 720 cctccttggg gacccacaga ccaacaactgctccctgagc atcagagatg ccaggaaggg 780 ggattcaggg aagtactact tccaggtggagagaggaagc aggaaatgga actacatata 840 tgacaagctc tctgtgcatg tgacagccctgactcacatg cccaccttct ccatcccggg 900 gaccctggag tctggccacc ccaggaacctgacctgctct gtgccctggg cctgtgaaca 960 ggggacgccc cccacgatca cctggatgggggcctccgtg tcctccctgg accccactat 1020 cactcgctcc tcgatgctca gcctcatcccacagccccag gaccatggca ccagcctcac 1080 ctgtcaggtg accttgcctg gggccggcgtgaccatgacc agggctgtcc gactcaacat 1140 atcctatcct cctcagaact tgaccatgactgtcttccaa ggagatggca cagcatccac 1200 aaccttgagg aatggctcgg ccctttcagtcctggagggc cagtccctgc accttgtctg 1260 tgctgtcgac agcaatcccc ctgccaggctgagctggacc tgggggagcc tgaccctgag 1320 cccctcacag tcctcgaacc ttggggtgctggagctgcct cgagtgcatg tgaaggatga 1380 aggggaattc acctgccgag ctcagaaccctctaggctcc cagcacattt ccctgagcct 1440 ctccctgcaa aacgagtaca caggcaaaatgaggcctata tcaggagtga cgctaggggc 1500 attcggggga gctggagcca cagccctggtcttcctgtac ttctgcatca tcttcgttgt 1560 agtgaggtcc tgcaggaaga aatcggcaaggccagcagtg gcgtggggga tacaggcatg 1620 gaggacgcaa acgctgtcag gggctcagcctctcagggac ccctgattga atccccggca 1680 gatgacagcc ccccacacca tgctccgccagccctggcca ccccctcccc agaggaagga 1740 gagatccagt atgcatccct cagcttccacaaagcgaggc ctcagtaccc acaggaacag 1800 gaggccatcg gctatgagta ctccgagatcaacatcccca agtgagaaac tgcagagact 1860 caggcctgtt tgagggctca cgacccctgcagcaaagaag cccgagactg attcctttag 1920 aattaacagc cctccatgct gtgcaacaggacatcagaac ttattcctct tgtcaaactg 1980 aaaatgcgtg cctgatgacc aaactctccctttctccatc caatcggtcc acactccccg 2040 cccccggcct ctggtaccca ccattctcttctctacttct ctgaggtcga ctattttagg 2100 ttccaaatat agtgagatcg tagagtgaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 2160 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaataaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 2220 aaaanaaaaa aaanaattta aaaaaaaaaaaannaaaaaa 2260 20 1066 DNA Homo sapiens 20 caccacccgc cgcacgaccaccaggcgtcc aacaaccaca gtccgaacca ctacgcggac 60 aaccaccacc accacccccaaacccaccac tcccatcccc acctgtcccc ctgggacctt 120 ggaacggcac gacgatgatggcaacctgat aatgagctcc aatgggatcc cagagtgcta 180 cgctgaagaa gatgagttctcaggcttgga gactgacact gcagtaccta cggaagaggc 240 ctacgttata tatgatgaagattatgaatt tgagacgtca aggccaccaa ccaccactga 300 gccttcgacc actgctaccacaccgagggt gatcccagag gaaggcgcca tcagttcctt 360 tcctgaagaa gaatttgatctggctggaag gaaacgattt gttgctcctt acgtgacgta 420 cctaaataaa gacccatcagccccgtgctc tctgactgat gcactggatc acttccaagt 480 ggacagcctg gatgaaatcatccccaatga cctgaagaag agtgatctgc ctccccagca 540 tgctccccgc aacatcaccgtggtggccgt ggaaggttgc cactcatttg tcattgtgga 600 ctgggacaaa gccaccccaggagatgtggt cacaggttac ttggtttaca gtgcatccta 660 tgaagacttc atcaggaacaagtggtccac tcaagcttca tcagtaactc acttgcccat 720 tgagaaccta aagcccaacacgaggtatta ttttaaagtg caagcacaaa atcctcatgg 780 ctacggacct atcagcccttcggtctcatt tgtcaccgaa tcagataatc ctctgcttgt 840 tgtgaggccc ccaggcggtgagcctatctg gatcccattc gctttcaaac atgatcccag 900 ctacacggac tgccatggacggcaatatgt gaagcgcacg ttggtatcga aagttcgtgg 960 gagttggtct ttgtaattcactgaggtata aaatctacct cagtgacaac ctgaaagatc 1020 attctacagc attggagacagctgggggaa gaagtgaaga ccattg 1066 21 1872 DNA Homo sapiens 21 gcctccggggccccgtcaat ctgcagcacc tcatcctcag cggcaaccag ctgggccgca 60 tcgcgccgggagccttcgac gacttcctag agagcctgga ggacctggac ctgtcctaca 120 acaacctccggcaggtgccc tgggccggca tcggcgccat gcctgccctg cacaccctca 180 acctggaccataaccttatt gacgcactgc ccccaggcgc cttcgcccag ctcggtcagc 240 tctcccgcctggacctcacc tccaaccgcc tggccacgct ggctccggac ccgcttttct 300 ctcgtgggcgtgatgcagag gcctctcccg cccccctggt gctgagcttt agcgggaacc 360 ccctgcactgcaactgtgag ctgctgtggc tgcggcggct ggcgcggccg gacgacctgg 420 aaacgtgcgcctccccgccc ggcctggccg gccgctactt ctgggcagtg cccgagggcg 480 agttctcctgtgagccgccc ctcattgccc gccacacgca gcgcctctgg gtgctggaag 540 gccagcgggccacgctgcgg tgccgggccc tgggtgaccc cgcgcctacc atgcactggg 600 tcggtcctgacgaccggttg gttggcaact cctcccgagc ccgggctttc cccaacggga 660 ccttagagattggggcgacc ggcgctgggg acgctggggg ctacacctgc atcgccacca 720 accctgctggtgaggccaca gcccgagtag aactgcgggt gctggccttg ccccatggtg 780 ggaacagcagtgccgagggg ggccgccccg ggccctcgga catcgccgcc tccgctcgca 840 ctgctgccgagggtgagggg acgctggagt ctgagccagc cgtgcaggtg acggaggtga 900 ccgccacctcagggctggtg agctggggtc ccgggcggcc agccgaccca gtgtggatgt 960 tccaaatccagtacaacagc agcgaagatg agaccctcat ctaccggatt gtcccagcct 1020 ccagccaccacttcctgctg aagcacctcg tccccggcgc tgactatgac ctctgcctgc 1080 tggccttgtcaccggccgct gggccctctg acctcacggc caccaggctg ctgggctgtg 1140 cccatttctccacgctgccg gcctcgcccc tgtgccacgc cctgcaggcc cacgtgctgg 1200 gcgggaccctgaccgtggcc gtggggggtg tgctggtggc tgccttactg gtcttcactg 1260 tggccttgctggttcggggc cggggggccg gaaatggccg cctccccctc aagctcagcc 1320 acgtccagtcccagaccaat ggaggcccca gccccacacc caaggcccac ccgccgcgga 1380 gccccccgccccggccgcag cgcagctgct ctctggacct gggagatgcc gggtgctacg 1440 gttatgccaggcgcctggga ggagcttggg cccgacggag ccactctgtg catggggggc 1500 tgctcggggcagggtgccgg ggggtaggag gcagcgccga gcggctggaa gagagtgtgg 1560 tgtgatggacgggcagcttc ctgtgtgctc caagggatga gcctcgtggg gcagagggcc 1620 cggggccgccgcctggcctg ggagtccctc cctggttttt attctcagta cctcaggctc 1680 ccctgtgtacttggaggggc agggagccct ttcctcggtt ctggcctcca gaccagggta 1740 agggcaggcccctccaacag gtgctcacag ccaccgaggc aggggctgca gccacccact 1800 gggagtcttgtttttattta taataaaatt gttggggaca cctcaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa 1860 aaaaaaaaaaaa 1872 22 1898 DNA Homo sapiens 22 tcgacccacg cgtccgccca cgcgtccggccgctcgtccg cccggcttga ggcccgcggg 60 gagcgcggcg caattcgtcg gcccgcgggggggcggcctc ccggcatctt cgcggcgacc 120 aaggactacc aggaagggga gcggctgggatggcgcgtcc gcggccccgc gagtacaaag 180 cgggcgacct ggtcttcgcc aagatgaagggctacccgca ctggccggcc cggattgatg 240 aactcccaga gggcgctgtg aagcctccagcaaacaagta tcctatcttc ttttttggca 300 cccatgaaac tgcatttcta ggtcccaaagacctttttcc atataaggag tacaaagaca 360 agtttggaaa gtcaaacaaa cggaaaggatttaacgaagg attgtgggaa atagaaaata 420 acccaggagt aaagtttact ggctaccaggcaattcagca acagagctct tcagaaactg 480 agggagaagg tggaaatact gcagatgcaagcagtgagga agaaggtgat agagtagaag 540 aagatggaaa aggcaaaaga aagaatgaaaaagcaggctc aaaacggaaa aagtcatata 600 cttcaaagaa atcctctaaa cagtcccggaaatctccagg agatgaagat gacaaagact 660 gcaaagaaga ggaaaacaaa agcagctctgagggtggaga tgcgggcaac gacacaagaa 720 acacaacttc agacttgcag aaaaccagtgaagggaccta actaccataa tgaatgctgc 780 atattaagag aaaccacaag aaggttatatgtttggttgt ctaatattct tggatttgat 840 atgaaccaac acatagtcct tgttgtcattgacagaaccc cagtttgtat gtacattatt 900 catattcctc tctgttgtgt ttcggggggaaaagacattt tagccttttt taaaagttac 960 tgatttaatt tcatgttatt tggttgcatgaagttgccct taccactaag gattatcaag 1020 atttttgcgc agacttatac atgtctaggatccttttatc aaggcagtta tgatcatcgg 1080 tttcctgcct tgccccacca tcatcaaacactcagttaaa tattaaatta accatttttt 1140 agattgaccc actcaacctt aatggctttaagaaatggga atttccttct yttgtggacm 1200 gaaaccccag gaatttaaat tcccttaaaatacmcttaac cgttggkatt atttggaaag 1260 accgaaaatt wtaaawwrtc cttcagttttgaggccatgt gtaaagttta accatattgt 1320 aaaatatcta ttccgtatta gaaatagctagttgacagct tatacttctc aaaattcata 1380 ttgttatgta cacaaactaa gtttctatatgtgaagttag tgagtctttt tgtgttactc 1440 caaaataaag gcaatgattt atttttttcccagtgccaat acaattttga gctaagcact 1500 caaggtggat actttacatt ttaaagctggaatcagcaac agccctatgg gaaaccagac 1560 aaagcattga cttttaaatg tagacttttaaaataaactg gttcttttgg aactacaatt 1620 agaatagtta atattcatcc ttaaaccattattatgtgta cattattgtt gctattgtga 1680 taatagagaa ttttatttat ttttatgccagcttatattg tgagaacaca tttagtcagt 1740 ttggggtttt atcaatcctg ttaatgcttgtccttggaac atcttcgcgt attcacggtt 1800 tgtagttgaa aaagttactg taaaaaaatcaaaaaccaaa aaatgtattg gtttaccgaa 1860 taaaattatt ggaatggaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaataat 1898 23 1865 DNA Homo sapiens 23 cgaacccggg gtggaagggaatgaagaaaa tgactcttct ctgaagacag gacttgagaa 60 aatgcggagt ggcaagatggcacccaagcc ccagtctcgc tgcacctcta cccgctcagc 120 aggtgaggcc ccttcagaaaatcagagtcc ctcaaaaggc cctgaagagg ccagcagtga 180 ggttcaggac acaaatgaagtgcatgtgcc tggtgatcag gatgaaccac agacattggg 240 caaaaagggc agcaaaaacaatatctctgt ttatatgacc ctaaatcaaa agaaatctga 300 ctcttccagt gcttcagtgtgtagcattga tagcacagat gatttgaaat cttccaactc 360 tgagtgtagt tcttctgaaagctttgattt tcctccaggc agtatgcatg caccttccac 420 ctcctccact tcctcctcttcaaaggaaga gaaaaagctc agtaattcct tgaaaatgaa 480 agtcttttcc aaaaacgtctctaaatgcgt cacaccagat ggcaggacca tatgtgtagg 540 ggacattgtt tgggccaagatatatggctt cccttggtgg ccagcccgta ttcttactat 600 aactgtgagc cggaaagataacggcctttt agtccgacag gaggcccgta tttcatggtt 660 tgggtctcca acaacatctttccttgctct ttcacaactc tccccctttt tagaaaactt 720 ccagtcacgc tttaataagaagagaaaggg cctgtatcgc aaggctatca cagaggcagc 780 taaggctgcc aagcagctgacccccgaagt gcgggcttgt tgacacagtt tgaaacgtga 840 acatgggcag taaggtaggcaagaccattg gaagtcacca cagattttct agtctagtta 900 ggaataattt ctaccaaaatagcgtggcca gattggagag agaagttgca ctcagttggc 960 tggcttttta atacttaccttatagccatt tttagactga ggagcttaaa ctgaacatat 1020 aatcaaattt tgtgttaaggaagtgagatt ttagcagtat ttttcagttt tgaagttcga 1080 aaccatccca aggcataggagccatagcct caactgaaat tgaatttttg tagggactgt 1140 taattgccat ttgtacctaatactgtatat atacatatat atacgtgtgt gtgtatatat 1200 atatatatat atatatatatatatatatcc gtgtatgtat atatacacac atatatatgt 1260 atatatacac atatatatatatgaaataca gcctgtcact gtgtgacaca gattgcatat 1320 ttgggattgc aataagggcttggtgagctg ggggaatagt ggatatttaa tgactacttg 1380 ttttttaaat aatgaacacttagcctttct atgcgcataa tggtgtaaaa gttagatggt 1440 taggtgtttg acaaacagatggttgcaatt cagttacaga ctggggaaat agcccagtgt 1500 ttgggattaa aactgtcaagactggatagg tgttagtcat cactgtcttt cgtccagtgg 1560 ggatttaata aatactttcaagcttctggt ttgggagttt agataggttt gattttggat 1620 ttgtaaatag tgattgctaaatttggtcag atttctcctg actggctgtt cctaaattct 1680 taggatatgt cccagtaaaattatactttg tgaattaatt gtcatatgtg taattgttgc 1740 attttggatg tacctaatttgataattaaa acaaaataat ttccgtttaa ggtatctgtt 1800 tgcaggtcag aaaatgagaaaatgtaattg tgtaatgctc tgaaatgtaa aaaaaaaaaa 1860 aaaaa 1865 24 1297 DNAHomo sapiens 24 cgctgcagcc gctttccgcg gcctgggcct ctcgccgtca gcatgccacacgccttcaag 60 cccggggact tggtgttcgc taagatgaag ggctaccctc actggcctgccaggatcgac 120 gacatcgcgg atggcgccgt gaagccccca cccaacaagt accccatctttttctttggc 180 acacacgaaa cagccttcct gggacccaag gacctgttcc cctacgacaaatgtaaagac 240 aagtacggga agcccaacaa gaggaaaggc ttcaatgaag ggctgtgggagatccagaac 300 aacccccacg ccagctacag cgcccctccg ccagtgagct cctccgacagcgaggccccc 360 gaggccaacc ccgccgacgg cagtgacgct gacgaggacg atgaggaccggggggtcatg 420 gccgtcacag cggtaaccgc cacagctgcc agcgacagga tggagagcgactcagactca 480 gacaagagta gcgacaacag tggcctgaag aggaagacgc ctgcgctaaagatgtcggtc 540 tcgaaacgag cccgaaaggc ctccagcgac ctggatcagg ccagcgtgtccccatccgaa 600 gaggagaact cggaaagctc atctgagtcg gagaagacca gcgaccaggacttcacacct 660 gagaagaaag cagcggtccg ggcgccacgg aggggccctc tggggggacggaaaaaaaag 720 aaagcgccgt cagcctccga ctccgactcc aaggccgatt cggacggggccaagcctgag 780 ccggtggcca tggcgcggtc ggcgtcctcc tcctcctctt cctcctcctcctccgactcc 840 gatgtgtctg ttaagaaacc tccgaggggc aggaagccaa cggaaaaacctctcccgaag 900 ccgcgagggc ggaaaccgaa gcctgaacgg cctccgtcca gctccagcagtgacagtgac 960 agcgacgaag tggaccgcat cacttaatgg aatcggcggg acaagcgcggaagcgccaac 1020 tggaagcccg gcggcggcga aagcagaaga ggagctgcgg cgcctgcgggagcagaaaag 1080 aagagaagaa cggagcgcga acgggccgac cgccgggagc tactgggcacggcggcacac 1140 cgggacgaac tcacggaaga catacccgtc cataaccggg accaaggccgggccgggtcc 1200 cctctcctct gactcgaacc cagcgactga taatagccaa atctctaaacgcatctctac 1260 ccaaacccgc cagaaactgc ctagataaaa aattcgg 1297 25 577 DNAHomo sapiens 25 ggcacgagga atgaagaaga tgtttgcttc atagtcttga atagaaaagaaggctcaggt 60 ctgggattca gtgtggcagg agggacagat gtggagccaa aatcaatcacggtccacagg 120 gtgttttctc agggggcggc ttctcaggaa gggactatga accgaggggatttccttctg 180 tcagtcaacg gcgcctcact ggctggctta gcccacggga atgtcctgaaggttctgcac 240 caggcacagc tgcacaaaga tgccctcgtg gtcatcaaga aagggatggatcagcccagg 300 ccctctgccc ggcaggagcc tcccacagcc aatgggaagg gtttgctgtccagaaagacc 360 atccccctgg agcctggcat tggtaagatg atcatttcaa caaccagcaggctgtgagct 420 actgcagaaa gaggagattc tggttgaaca tgaaggaaaa taacagctaactaacttcta 480 gatctgaaaa attaaatgta gcgaagtcta gtgtgtttgg atgctgcttacaaaagcagt 540 gttacaaata aattagaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaa 577 26 675 DNAHomo sapiens 26 ggcacgagag atggcggcct ccgtgtgcag cgggttgctg gggccacgggtgctgtcctg 60 gagccgagag ctgccttgcg cttggcgcgc cctgcacacc tccccggtctgcgccaagaa 120 ccgggcggcc cgagtacgcg taagcaaggg ggacaagccg gtgacctacgaggaggcaca 180 cgcgccgcac tacatcgccc accgtaaagg ctggctgtcg ctgcacacaggtaacctgga 240 tggagaggac catgccgcag agcgaacggt ggaggatgtt ttccttcgcaagttcatgtg 300 gggtaccttc ccaggctgcc tggctgacca gctggtttta aagcgccggggtaaccagtt 360 ggagatctgt gccgtggtcc tgaggcagtt gtctccacac aagtactacttcctcgtggg 420 ctacagtgaa actttgctgt cctactttta caaatgtcct gtgcgactccacctccaaac 480 tgtgccctca aaggttgtgt ataagtacct ctagaacaat ccccttttttccatcaagct 540 gtagcctgca gagaatggaa acgtgggaaa ggaatggtat gtgggggaaatgcatcccct 600 cagaggactg aggcatagtc tctcatctgc tattgaataa agaccttctatcttgaaaaa 660 aaaaaaaaaa aaaaa 675 27 1558 DNA Homo sapiens 27cgagaaaccg cgcttccgct tctggtcgca gagacctcgg agaccgcgcc ggggagacgg 60aggtgctgtg ggtggggggg acctgtggct gctcgtaccg ccccccaccc tcctcttctg 120cactgccgtc ctccggaaga ccttttcccc tgctctgttt ccttcaccga gtctgtgcat 180cgccccggac ctggccggga ggaggcttgg ccggcgggag atgctctagg ggcggcgcgg 240gaggagcggc cggcgggacg gagggcccgg caggaagatg ggctcccgtg gacagggact 300cttgctggcg tactgcctgc tccttgcctt tgcctctggc ctggtcctga gtcgcgtgcc 360ccatgtccag ggggaacagc aggagtggga ggggactgag gagctgccgt cccctccgga 420ccatgccgag agggctgaag aacaacatga aaaatacagg cccagtcagg accaggggct 480ccctgcttcc cggtgcttgc gctgctgtga ccccggtacc tccatgtacc cggcgaccgc 540cgtgccccag atcaacatca ctatcttgaa aggggagaag ggtgaccgcg gagatcgagg 600cctccaaggg aaatatggca aaacaggctc agcaggggcc aggggccaca ctggacccaa 660agggcagaag ggctccatgg gggcccctgg ggagcggtgc aagagccact acgccgcctt 720ttcggtgggc cggaagaagc ccatgcacag caaccactac taccagacgg tgatcttcga 780cacggagttc gtgaacctct acgaccactt caacatgttc accggcaagt tctactgcta 840cgtgcccggc ctctacttct tcagcctcaa cgtgcacacc tggaaccaga aggagaccta 900cctgcacatc atgaagaacg aggaggaggt ggcgatcttg ttcgcgcagg tgggcgaccg 960cagcatcatg caaagccaga gcctgatgct ggagctgcga gagcaggacc aggtgtgggt 1020acgcctctac aagggcgaac gtgagaacgc catcttcagc gaggagctgg acacctacat 1080caccttcagt ggctacctgg tcaagcacgc caccgagccc tagctggccg gccacctcct 1140ttcctctcgc caccttccac ccctgcgctg tgctgacccc agggctcagc accaggctga 1200ccccaccgcc tcttccccga tccctggact ccgactccct ggctttggca ttcagtgaga 1260cgccctgacc acacagaaag ccaaagcgat cggtgctccc agatcccgca gcctctggag 1320agagctgacg gcagatgaaa tcaccagggc ggggcacccg cgagaaccct ctgggacctt 1380ccgcggccct ctctgcacac atcctcaagt gaccccgcac ggcgagacgc gggtggcggc 1440agggcgtccc agggtgcggc accgcggctc cagtccttgg aaataattag gcaaattcta 1500aaggtctcaa aaggagcaaa gtaaaccgtg gaggacaaag aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa 1558 28563 DNA Homo sapiens 28 atgaagggga gccgtgccct cctgctggtg gccctcaccctgttctgcat ctgccggatg 60 gccacggggg aggacaacga tgagtttttc atggacttcctgcaaacact actggtgggg 120 accccagagg agctctatga ggggaccttg ggcaagtacaatgtcaacga agatgccaag 180 gcagcaatga ctgaactcaa gtcctgcata gatggcctgcagccaatgca caaggcggag 240 ctggtcaagc tgctggtgca agtgctgggc agtcaggacggtgccggtac cgattacaag 300 gacgacgatg acaagtagta ctgggtggca tccctgtgacccctccccag tgcctctcct 360 ggccctggaa gttgccactc cagtgcccac cagccttgtcctaataaaat taagttgcat 420 cattttgtct gactaggtgt ccttctataa tattatggggtggagggggg tggtatggag 480 caaggggcaa gttgggaaga caacctgtag ggcctgcggggtctattggg aaccaagctg 540 gagtgcagtg gcacaatctt ggc 563 29 2139 DNA Homosapiens 29 ggaggaacag acttacctca gcaaccctgg cacctccaac ccgacacatgctactgctgc 60 tgctactgct gccacccctg ctctgtggga gagtgggggc taaggaacagaaggattacc 120 tgctgacaat gcagaagtcc gtgacggtgc aggagggcct gtgtgtctctgtgctttgct 180 ccttctccta cccccaaaat ggctggactg cctccgatcc agttcatggctactggttcc 240 gggcagggga ccatgtaagc cggaacattc cagtggccac aaacaacccagctcgagcag 300 tgcaggagga gactcgggac cgattccacc tccttgggga cccacagaacaaggattgta 360 ccctgagcat cagagacacc agagagagtg atgcagggac atacgtcttttgtgtagaga 420 gaggaaatat gaaatggaat tataaatatg accagctctc tgtgaatgtgacagcgtccc 480 aggacctact gtcaagatac aggctggagg tgccagagtc ggtgactgtgcaggagggtc 540 tgtgtgtctc tgtgccctgc agtgtccttt acccccatta caactggactgcctctagcc 600 ctgtttatgg atcctggttc aaggaagggg ccgatatacc atgggatattccagtggcca 660 caaacacccc aagtggaaaa gtgcaagagg atacccacgg tcgattcctcctccttgggg 720 acccacagac caacaactgc tccctgagca tcagagatgc caggaagggggattcaggga 780 agtactactt ccaggtggag agaggaagca ggaaatggaa ctacatatatgacaagctct 840 ctgtgcatgt gacagccctg actcacatgc ccaccttctc catcccggggaccctggagt 900 ctggccaccc caggaacctg acctgctctg tgccctgggc ctgtgaacaggggacgcccc 960 ccacgatcac ctggatgggg gcctccgtgt cctccctgga ccccactatcactcgctcct 1020 cgatgctcag cctcatccca cagccccagg accatggcac cagcctcacctgtcaggtga 1080 ccttgcctgg ggccggcgtg accatgacca gggctgtccg actcaacatatcctatcctc 1140 ctcagaactt gaccatgact gtcttccaag gagatggcac agcatccacaaccttgagga 1200 atggctcggc cctttcagtc ctggagggcc agtccctgca ccttgtctgtgctgtcgaca 1260 gcaatccccc tgccaggctg agctggacct gggggagcct gaccctgagcccctcacagt 1320 cctcgaacct tggggtgctg gagctgcctc gagtgcatgt gaaggatgaaggggaattca 1380 cctgccgagc tcagaaccct ctaggctccc agcacatttc cctgagcctctccctgcaaa 1440 acgagtacac aggcaaaatg aggcctatat caggagtgac gctaggggcattcgggggag 1500 ctggagccac agccctggtc ttcctgtact tctgcatcat cttcgttgtagtgaggtcct 1560 gcaggaagaa atcggcaagg ccagcagtgg gcgtggggga tacaggcatggaggacgcaa 1620 acgctgtcag gggctcagcc tctcagggac ccctgattga atccccggcagatgacagcc 1680 ccccacacca tgctccgcca gccctggcca ccccctcccc agaggaaggagagatccagt 1740 atgcatccct cagcttccac aaagcgaggc ctcagtaccc acaggaacaggaggccatcg 1800 gctatgagta ctccgagatc aacatcccca agtgagaaac tgcagagactcaggcctgtt 1860 tgagggctca cgacccctgc agcaaagaag cccgagactg attcctttagaattaacagc 1920 cctccatgct gtgcaacagg acatcagaac ttattcctct tgtcaaactgaaaatgcgtg 1980 cctgatgacc aaactctccc tttctccatc caatcggtcc acactccccgcccccggcct 2040 ctggtaccca ccattctctt ctctacttct ctgaggtcga ctattttaggttccaaatat 2100 agtgagatcg tagagtgaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaa 2139 30 184PRT Homo sapiens 30 Met Lys Ala Leu Gly Ala Val Leu Leu Ala Leu Leu LeuCys Gly Arg 1 5 10 15 Pro Gly Arg Gly Gln Thr Gln Gln Glu Glu Glu GluGlu Asp Glu Asp 20 25 30 His Gly Pro Asp Asp Tyr Asp Glu Glu Asp Glu AspGlu Val Glu Glu 35 40 45 Glu Glu Thr Asn Arg Leu Pro Gly Gly Arg Ser ArgVal Leu Leu Arg 50 55 60 Cys Tyr Thr Cys Lys Ser Leu Pro Arg Asp Glu ArgCys Asn Leu Thr 65 70 75 80 Gln Asn Cys Ser His Gly Gln Thr Cys Thr ThrLeu Ile Ala His Gly 85 90 95 Asn Thr Glu Ser Gly Leu Leu Thr Thr His SerThr Trp Cys Thr Asp 100 105 110 Ser Cys Gln Pro Ile Thr Lys Thr Val GluGly Thr Gln Val Thr Met 115 120 125 Thr Cys Cys Gln Ser Ser Leu Cys AsnVal Pro Pro Trp Gln Ser Ser 130 135 140 Arg Val Gln Asp Pro Thr Gly LysGly Ala Gly Gly Pro Arg Gly Ser 145 150 155 160 Ser Glu Thr Val Gly AlaAla Leu Leu Leu Asn Leu Leu Ala Gly Leu 165 170 175 Gly Ala Met Gly AlaArg Arg Pro 180 31 352 PRT Homo sapiens 31 Met Val Glu Ala Leu Arg AlaGly Ser Ala Arg Leu Val Ala Ala Pro 1 5 10 15 Val Ala Thr Ala Asn ProAla Arg Cys Leu Ala Leu Asn Val Ser Leu 20 25 30 Arg Glu Trp Thr Ala ArgTyr Gly Ala Ala Pro Ala Ala Pro Arg Cys 35 40 45 Asp Ala Leu Asp Gly AspAla Val Val Leu Leu Arg Ala Arg Asp Leu 50 55 60 Phe Asn Leu Ser Ala ProLeu Ala Arg Pro Val Gly Thr Ser Leu Phe 65 70 75 80 Leu Gln Thr Ala LeuArg Gly Trp Ala Val Gln Leu Leu Asp Leu Thr 85 90 95 Phe Ala Ala Ala ArgGln Pro Pro Leu Ala Thr Ala His Ala Arg Trp 100 105 110 Lys Ala Glu ArgGlu Gly Arg Ala Arg Arg Ala Ala Leu Leu Arg Ala 115 120 125 Leu Gly IleArg Leu Val Ser Trp Glu Gly Gly Arg Leu Glu Trp Phe 130 135 140 Gly CysAsn Lys Glu Thr Thr Arg Cys Phe Gly Thr Val Val Gly Asp 145 150 155 160Thr Pro Ala Tyr Leu Tyr Glu Glu Arg Trp Thr Pro Pro Cys Cys Leu 165 170175 Arg Ala Leu Arg Glu Thr Ala Arg Tyr Val Val Gly Val Leu Glu Ala 180185 190 Ala Gly Val Arg Tyr Trp Leu Glu Gly Gly Ser Leu Leu Gly Ala Ala195 200 205 Arg His Gly Asp Ile Ile Pro Trp Asp Tyr Asp Val Asp Leu GlyIle 210 215 220 Tyr Leu Glu Asp Val Gly Asn Cys Glu Gln Leu Arg Gly AlaGlu Ala 225 230 235 240 Gly Ser Val Val Asp Glu Arg Gly Phe Val Trp GluLys Ala Val Glu 245 250 255 Gly Asp Phe Phe Arg Val Gln Tyr Ser Glu SerAsn His Leu His Val 260 265 270 Asp Leu Trp Pro Phe Tyr Pro Arg Asn GlyVal Met Thr Lys Asp Thr 275 280 285 Trp Leu Asp His Arg Gln Asp Val GluPhe Pro Glu His Phe Leu Gln 290 295 300 Pro Leu Val Pro Leu Pro Phe AlaGly Phe Val Ala Gln Ala Pro Asn 305 310 315 320 Asn Tyr Arg Arg Phe LeuGlu Leu Lys Phe Gly Pro Gly Val Ile Glu 325 330 335 Asn Pro Gln Tyr ProAsn Pro Ala Leu Leu Ser Leu Thr Gly Ser Gly 340 345 350 32 448 PRT Homosapiens 32 Met Ala Trp Ala Ser Arg Leu Gly Leu Leu Leu Ala Leu Leu LeuPro 1 5 10 15 Val Val Gly Ala Ser Thr Pro Gly Thr Val Val Arg Leu AsnLys Ala 20 25 30 Ala Leu Ser Tyr Val Ser Glu Ile Gly Lys Ala Pro Leu GlnArg Ala 35 40 45 Leu Gln Val Thr Val Pro His Phe Leu Asp Trp Ser Gly GluAla Leu 50 55 60 Gln Pro Thr Arg Ile Arg Ile Leu Asn Val His Val Pro ArgLeu His 65 70 75 80 Leu Lys Phe Ile Ala Gly Phe Gly Val Arg Leu Leu AlaAla Ala Asn 85 90 95 Phe Thr Phe Lys Val Phe Arg Ala Pro Glu Pro Leu GluLeu Thr Leu 100 105 110 Pro Val Glu Leu Leu Ala Asp Thr Arg Val Thr GlnSer Ser Ile Arg 115 120 125 Thr Pro Val Val Ser Ile Ser Ala Cys Ser LeuPhe Ser Gly His Ala 130 135 140 Asn Glu Phe Asp Gly Ser Asn Ser Thr SerHis Ala Leu Leu Val Leu 145 150 155 160 Val Gln Lys His Ile Lys Ala ValLeu Ser Asn Lys Leu Cys Leu Ser 165 170 175 Ile Ser Asn Leu Val Gln GlyVal Asn Val His Leu Gly Thr Leu Ile 180 185 190 Gly Leu Asn Pro Val GlyPro Glu Ser Gln Ile Arg Tyr Ser Met Val 195 200 205 Ser Val Pro Thr ValThr Ser Asp Tyr Ile Ser Leu Glu Val Asn Ala 210 215 220 Val Leu Phe LeuLeu Gly Lys Pro Ile Ile Leu Pro Thr Asp Ala Thr 225 230 235 240 Pro PheVal Leu Pro Arg His Val Gly Thr Glu Gly Ser Met Ala Thr 245 250 255 ValGly Leu Ser Gln Gln Leu Phe Asp Ser Ala Leu Leu Leu Leu Gln 260 265 270Lys Ala Gly Ala Leu Asn Leu Asp Ile Thr Gly Gln Leu Arg Ser Asp 275 280285 Asp Asn Leu Leu Asn Thr Ser Ala Leu Gly Arg Leu Ile Pro Glu Val 290295 300 Ala Arg Gln Phe Pro Glu Pro Met Pro Val Val Leu Lys Val Arg Leu305 310 315 320 Gly Ala Thr Pro Val Ala Met Leu His Thr Asn Asn Ala ThrLeu Arg 325 330 335 Leu Gln Pro Phe Val Glu Val Leu Ala Thr Ala Ser AsnSer Ala Phe 340 345 350 Gln Ser Leu Phe Ser Leu Asp Val Val Val Asn LeuArg Leu Gln Leu 355 360 365 Ser Val Ser Lys Val Lys Leu Gln Gly Thr ThrSer Val Leu Gly Asp 370 375 380 Val Gln Leu Thr Val Ala Ser Ser Asn ValGly Phe Ile Asp Thr Asp 385 390 395 400 Gln Val Arg Thr Leu Met Gly ThrVal Phe Glu Lys Pro Leu Leu Asp 405 410 415 His Leu Asn Ala Leu Leu AlaMet Gly Ile Ala Leu Pro Gly Val Val 420 425 430 Asn Leu His Tyr Val ProLeu Arg Ser Leu Ser Met Arg Ala Thr Trp 435 440 445 33 183 PRT Homosapiens 33 Met Glu Pro Glu Glu Gly Thr Pro Leu Trp Arg Leu Gln Lys LeuPro 1 5 10 15 Ala Glu Leu Gly Pro Gln Leu Leu His Lys Ile Ile Asp GlyIle Cys 20 25 30 Gly Arg Ala Tyr Pro Val Tyr Gln Asp Tyr His Thr Val TrpGlu Ser 35 40 45 Glu Glu Trp Met His Val Leu Glu Asp Ile Ala Lys Phe PheLys Ala 50 55 60 Ile Val Gly Lys Asn Leu Pro Asp Glu Glu Ile Phe Gln GlnLeu Asn 65 70 75 80 Gln Leu Asn Ser Leu His Gln Glu Thr Ile Met Lys CysVal Lys Ser 85 90 95 Arg Lys Asp Glu Ile Lys Gln Ala Leu Ser Arg Glu IleVal Ala Ile 100 105 110 Ser Ser Ala Gln Leu Gln Asp Phe Asp Trp Gln ValLys Leu Ala Leu 115 120 125 Ser Ser Asp Lys Ile Ala Ala Leu Arg Met ProLeu Leu Ser Leu His 130 135 140 Leu Asp Val Lys Glu Asn Gly Glu Val LysPro Tyr Ser Ile Glu Met 145 150 155 160 Ser Arg Glu Glu Leu Gln Asn LeuIle Gln Ser Leu Glu Ala Ala Asn 165 170 175 Lys Val Val Leu Gln Leu Lys180 34 121 PRT Homo sapiens 34 Met Pro Cys Gly Arg Gln His Leu Gln AsnLeu Asp Asp Ala Val Asn 1 5 10 15 Gly Ser Ala Trp Thr Ile Leu Leu LeuThr Glu Asn Phe Leu Arg Asp 20 25 30 Thr Trp Cys Asn Phe Gln Phe Tyr ThrSer Leu Met Asn Ser Val Asn 35 40 45 Arg Gln His Lys Tyr Asn Ser Val IlePro Met Arg Pro Leu Asn Asn 50 55 60 Pro Leu Pro Arg Glu Arg Thr Pro PheAla Leu Gln Thr Ile Asn Ala 65 70 75 80 Leu Glu Glu Glu Ser Arg Gly PhePro Thr Gln Val Glu Arg Ile Phe 85 90 95 Gln Glu Ser Val Tyr Lys Thr GlnGln Thr Ile Trp Lys Glu Thr Arg 100 105 110 Asn Met Val Gln Arg Gln PheIle Ala 115 120 35 251 PRT Homo sapiens 35 Met Leu Phe His Tyr Asp TrpIle Ser Ile Pro Leu Val Tyr Thr Gln 1 5 10 15 Val Val Thr Ile Ala ValTyr Ser Phe Phe Ala Leu Ser Leu Val Gly 20 25 30 Arg Gln Phe Val Glu ProGlu Ala Gly Ala Ala Lys Pro Gln Lys Leu 35 40 45 Leu Lys Pro Gly Gln GluPro Ala Pro Ala Leu Gly Asp Pro Asp Met 50 55 60 Tyr Val Pro Leu Thr ThrLeu Leu Gln Phe Phe Phe Tyr Ala Gly Trp 65 70 75 80 Leu Lys Val Ala GluGln Ile Ile Asn Pro Phe Gly Glu Asp Asp Asp 85 90 95 Asp Phe Glu Thr AsnGln Leu Ile Asp Arg Asn Leu Gln Val Ser Leu 100 105 110 Leu Ser Val AspGlu Met Tyr Gln Asn Leu Pro Pro Ala Glu Lys Asp 115 120 125 Gln Tyr TrpAsp Glu Asp Gln Pro Gln Pro Pro Tyr Thr Val Ala Thr 130 135 140 Ala AlaGlu Ser Leu Arg Pro Ser Phe Leu Gly Ser Thr Phe Asn Leu 145 150 155 160Arg Met Ser Asp Asp Pro Glu Gln Ser Leu Gln Val Glu Ala Ser Pro 165 170175 Gly Ser Gly Arg Pro Ala Pro Ala Ala Gln Thr Pro Leu Leu Gly Arg 180185 190 Phe Leu Gly Val Gly Ala Pro Ser Pro Ala Ile Ser Leu Arg Asn Phe195 200 205 Gly Arg Val Arg Gly Thr Pro Arg Pro Pro His Leu Leu Arg PheArg 210 215 220 Ala Glu Glu Gly Gly Asp Pro Glu Ala Ala Ala Arg Ile GluGlu Glu 225 230 235 240 Ser Ala Glu Ser Gly Asp Glu Ala Leu Glu Pro 245250 36 125 PRT Homo sapiens 36 Met Arg Pro Gly Lys Lys Val Leu Val MetGly Ile Val Asp Leu Asn 1 5 10 15 Pro Glu Ser Phe Ala Ile Ser Leu ThrCys Gly Asp Ser Glu Asp Pro 20 25 30 Pro Ala Asp Val Ala Ile Glu Leu LysAla Val Phe Thr Asp Arg Gln 35 40 45 Leu Leu Arg Asn Ser Cys Ile Ser GlyGlu Arg Gly Glu Glu Gln Ser 50 55 60 Ala Ile Pro Tyr Phe Pro Phe Ile ProAsp Gln Pro Phe Arg Val Glu 65 70 75 80 Ile Leu Cys Glu His Pro Arg PheArg Val Phe Val Asp Gly His Gln 85 90 95 Leu Phe Asp Phe Tyr His Arg IleGln Thr Leu Ser Ala Ile Asp Thr 100 105 110 Ile Lys Ile Asn Gly Asp LeuGln Ile Thr Lys Leu Gly 115 120 125 37 170 PRT Homo sapiens 37 Met IleSer Ile His Asn Glu Glu Glu Asn Ala Phe Ile Leu Asp Thr 1 5 10 15 LeuLys Lys Gln Trp Lys Gly Pro Asp Asp Ile Leu Leu Gly Met Phe 20 25 30 TyrAsp Thr Asp Asp Ala Ser Phe Lys Trp Phe Asp Asn Ser Asn Met 35 40 45 ThrPhe Asp Lys Trp Thr Asp Gln Asp Asp Asp Glu Asp Leu Val Asp 50 55 60 ThrCys Ala Phe Leu His Ile Lys Thr Gly Glu Trp Lys Lys Gly Asn 65 70 75 80Cys Glu Val Ser Ser Val Glu Gly Thr Leu Cys Lys Thr Ala Ile Pro 85 90 95Tyr Lys Arg Lys Tyr Leu Ser Asp Asn His Ile Leu Ile Ser Ala Leu 100 105110 Val Ile Ala Ser Thr Val Ile Leu Thr Val Leu Gly Ala Ile Ile Trp 115120 125 Phe Leu Tyr Lys Lys His Ser Asp Ser Arg Phe Thr Thr Val Phe Ser130 135 140 Thr Ala Pro Gln Ser Pro Tyr Asn Glu Asp Cys Val Leu Val ValGly 145 150 155 160 Glu Glu Asn Glu Tyr Pro Val Gln Phe Asp 165 170 38535 PRT Homo sapiens 38 Met Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Pro Leu LeuCys Gly Arg Val 1 5 10 15 Gly Ala Lys Glu Gln Lys Asp Tyr Leu Leu ThrMet Gln Lys Ser Val 20 25 30 Thr Val Gln Glu Gly Leu Cys Val Ser Val LeuCys Ser Phe Ser Tyr 35 40 45 Pro Gln Asn Gly Trp Thr Ala Ser Asp Pro ValHis Gly Tyr Trp Phe 50 55 60 Arg Ala Gly Asp His Val Ser Arg Asn Ile ProVal Ala Thr Asn Asn 65 70 75 80 Pro Ala Arg Ala Val Gln Glu Glu Thr ArgAsp Arg Phe His Leu Leu 85 90 95 Gly Asp Pro Gln Asn Lys Asp Cys Thr LeuSer Ile Arg Asp Thr Arg 100 105 110 Glu Ser Asp Ala Gly Thr Tyr Val PheCys Val Glu Arg Gly Asn Met 115 120 125 Lys Trp Asn Tyr Lys Tyr Asp GlnLeu Ser Val Asn Val Thr Ala Ser 130 135 140 Gln Asp Leu Leu Ser Arg TyrArg Leu Glu Val Pro Glu Ser Val Thr 145 150 155 160 Val Gln Glu Gly LeuCys Val Ser Val Pro Cys Ser Val Leu Tyr Pro 165 170 175 His Tyr Asn TrpThr Ala Ser Ser Pro Val Tyr Gly Ser Trp Phe Lys 180 185 190 Glu Gly AlaAsp Ile Pro Trp Asp Ile Pro Val Ala Thr Asn Thr Pro 195 200 205 Ser GlyLys Val Gln Glu Asp Thr His Gly Arg Phe Leu Leu Leu Gly 210 215 220 AspPro Gln Thr Asn Asn Cys Ser Leu Ser Ile Arg Asp Ala Arg Lys 225 230 235240 Gly Asp Ser Gly Lys Tyr Tyr Phe Gln Val Glu Arg Gly Ser Arg Lys 245250 255 Trp Asn Tyr Ile Tyr Asp Lys Leu Ser Val His Val Thr Ala Leu Thr260 265 270 His Met Pro Thr Phe Ser Ile Pro Gly Thr Leu Glu Ser Gly HisPro 275 280 285 Arg Asn Leu Thr Cys Ser Val Pro Trp Ala Cys Glu Gln GlyThr Pro 290 295 300 Pro Thr Ile Thr Trp Met Gly Ala Ser Val Ser Ser LeuAsp Pro Thr 305 310 315 320 Ile Thr Arg Ser Ser Met Leu Ser Leu Ile ProGln Pro Gln Asp His 325 330 335 Gly Thr Ser Leu Thr Cys Gln Val Thr LeuPro Gly Ala Gly Val Thr 340 345 350 Met Thr Arg Ala Val Arg Leu Asn IleSer Tyr Pro Pro Gln Asn Leu 355 360 365 Thr Met Thr Val Phe Gln Gly AspGly Thr Ala Ser Thr Thr Leu Arg 370 375 380 Asn Gly Ser Ala Leu Ser ValLeu Glu Gly Gln Ser Leu His Leu Val 385 390 395 400 Cys Ala Val Asp SerAsn Pro Pro Ala Arg Leu Ser Trp Thr Trp Gly 405 410 415 Ser Leu Thr LeuSer Pro Ser Gln Ser Ser Asn Leu Gly Val Leu Glu 420 425 430 Leu Pro ArgVal His Val Lys Asp Glu Gly Glu Phe Thr Cys Arg Ala 435 440 445 Gln AsnPro Leu Gly Ser Gln His Ile Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Leu Gln 450 455 460 AsnGlu Tyr Thr Gly Lys Met Arg Pro Ile Ser Gly Val Thr Leu Gly 465 470 475480 Ala Phe Gly Gly Ala Gly Ala Thr Ala Leu Val Phe Leu Tyr Phe Cys 485490 495 Ile Ile Phe Val Val Val Arg Ser Cys Arg Lys Lys Ser Ala Arg Pro500 505 510 Ala Val Ala Trp Gly Ile Gln Ala Trp Arg Thr Gln Thr Leu SerGly 515 520 525 Ala Gln Pro Leu Arg Asp Pro 530 535 39 274 PRT Homosapiens 39 Met Ser Ser Asn Gly Ile Pro Glu Cys Tyr Ala Glu Glu Asp GluPhe 1 5 10 15 Ser Gly Leu Glu Thr Asp Thr Ala Val Pro Thr Glu Glu AlaTyr Val 20 25 30 Ile Tyr Asp Glu Asp Tyr Glu Phe Glu Thr Ser Arg Pro ProThr Thr 35 40 45 Thr Glu Pro Ser Thr Thr Ala Thr Thr Pro Arg Val Ile ProGlu Glu 50 55 60 Gly Ala Ile Ser Ser Phe Pro Glu Glu Glu Phe Asp Leu AlaGly Arg 65 70 75 80 Lys Arg Phe Val Ala Pro Tyr Val Thr Tyr Leu Asn LysAsp Pro Ser 85 90 95 Ala Pro Cys Ser Leu Thr Asp Ala Leu Asp His Phe GlnVal Asp Ser 100 105 110 Leu Asp Glu Ile Ile Pro Asn Asp Leu Lys Lys SerAsp Leu Pro Pro 115 120 125 Gln His Ala Pro Arg Asn Ile Thr Val Val AlaVal Glu Gly Cys His 130 135 140 Ser Phe Val Ile Val Asp Trp Asp Lys AlaThr Pro Gly Asp Val Val 145 150 155 160 Thr Gly Tyr Leu Val Tyr Ser AlaSer Tyr Glu Asp Phe Ile Arg Asn 165 170 175 Lys Trp Ser Thr Gln Ala SerSer Val Thr His Leu Pro Ile Glu Asn 180 185 190 Leu Lys Pro Asn Thr ArgTyr Tyr Phe Lys Val Gln Ala Gln Asn Pro 195 200 205 His Gly Tyr Gly ProIle Ser Pro Ser Val Ser Phe Val Thr Glu Ser 210 215 220 Asp Asn Pro LeuLeu Val Val Arg Pro Pro Gly Gly Glu Pro Ile Trp 225 230 235 240 Ile ProPhe Ala Phe Lys His Asp Pro Ser Tyr Thr Asp Cys His Gly 245 250 255 ArgGln Tyr Val Lys Arg Thr Leu Val Ser Lys Val Arg Gly Ser Trp 260 265 270Ser Leu 40 468 PRT Homo sapiens 40 Met Pro Ala Leu His Thr Leu Asn LeuAsp His Asn Leu Ile Asp Ala 1 5 10 15 Leu Pro Pro Gly Ala Phe Ala GlnLeu Gly Gln Leu Ser Arg Leu Asp 20 25 30 Leu Thr Ser Asn Arg Leu Ala ThrLeu Ala Pro Asp Pro Leu Phe Ser 35 40 45 Arg Gly Arg Asp Ala Glu Ala SerPro Ala Pro Leu Val Leu Ser Phe 50 55 60 Ser Gly Asn Pro Leu His Cys AsnCys Glu Leu Leu Trp Leu Arg Arg 65 70 75 80 Leu Ala Arg Pro Asp Asp LeuGlu Thr Cys Ala Ser Pro Pro Gly Leu 85 90 95 Ala Gly Arg Tyr Phe Trp AlaVal Pro Glu Gly Glu Phe Ser Cys Glu 100 105 110 Pro Pro Leu Ile Ala ArgHis Thr Gln Arg Leu Trp Val Leu Glu Gly 115 120 125 Gln Arg Ala Thr LeuArg Cys Arg Ala Leu Gly Asp Pro Ala Pro Thr 130 135 140 Met His Trp ValGly Pro Asp Asp Arg Leu Val Gly Asn Ser Ser Arg 145 150 155 160 Ala ArgAla Phe Pro Asn Gly Thr Leu Glu Ile Gly Ala Thr Gly Ala 165 170 175 GlyAsp Ala Gly Gly Tyr Thr Cys Ile Ala Thr Asn Pro Ala Gly Glu 180 185 190Ala Thr Ala Arg Val Glu Leu Arg Val Leu Ala Leu Pro His Gly Gly 195 200205 Asn Ser Ser Ala Glu Gly Gly Arg Pro Gly Pro Ser Asp Ile Ala Ala 210215 220 Ser Ala Arg Thr Ala Ala Glu Gly Glu Gly Thr Leu Glu Ser Glu Pro225 230 235 240 Ala Val Gln Val Thr Glu Val Thr Ala Thr Ser Gly Leu ValSer Trp 245 250 255 Gly Pro Gly Arg Pro Ala Asp Pro Val Trp Met Phe GlnIle Gln Tyr 260 265 270 Asn Ser Ser Glu Asp Glu Thr Leu Ile Tyr Arg IleVal Pro Ala Ser 275 280 285 Ser His His Phe Leu Leu Lys His Leu Val ProGly Ala Asp Tyr Asp 290 295 300 Leu Cys Leu Leu Ala Leu Ser Pro Ala AlaGly Pro Ser Asp Leu Thr 305 310 315 320 Ala Thr Arg Leu Leu Gly Cys AlaHis Phe Ser Thr Leu Pro Ala Ser 325 330 335 Pro Leu Cys His Ala Leu GlnAla His Val Leu Gly Gly Thr Leu Thr 340 345 350 Val Ala Val Gly Gly ValLeu Val Ala Ala Leu Leu Val Phe Thr Val 355 360 365 Ala Leu Leu Val ArgGly Arg Gly Ala Gly Asn Gly Arg Leu Pro Leu 370 375 380 Lys Leu Ser HisVal Gln Ser Gln Thr Asn Gly Gly Pro Ser Pro Thr 385 390 395 400 Pro LysAla His Pro Pro Arg Ser Pro Pro Pro Arg Pro Gln Arg Ser 405 410 415 CysSer Leu Asp Leu Gly Asp Ala Gly Cys Tyr Gly Tyr Ala Arg Arg 420 425 430Leu Gly Gly Ala Trp Ala Arg Arg Ser His Ser Val His Gly Gly Leu 435 440445 Leu Gly Ala Gly Cys Arg Gly Val Gly Gly Ser Ala Glu Arg Leu Glu 450455 460 Glu Ser Val Val 465 41 203 PRT Homo sapiens 41 Met Ala Arg ProArg Pro Arg Glu Tyr Lys Ala Gly Asp Leu Val Phe 1 5 10 15 Ala Lys MetLys Gly Tyr Pro His Trp Pro Ala Arg Ile Asp Glu Leu 20 25 30 Pro Glu GlyAla Val Lys Pro Pro Ala Asn Lys Tyr Pro Ile Phe Phe 35 40 45 Phe Gly ThrHis Glu Thr Ala Phe Leu Gly Pro Lys Asp Leu Phe Pro 50 55 60 Tyr Lys GluTyr Lys Asp Lys Phe Gly Lys Ser Asn Lys Arg Lys Gly 65 70 75 80 Phe AsnGlu Gly Leu Trp Glu Ile Glu Asn Asn Pro Gly Val Lys Phe 85 90 95 Thr GlyTyr Gln Ala Ile Gln Gln Gln Ser Ser Ser Glu Thr Glu Gly 100 105 110 GluGly Gly Asn Thr Ala Asp Ala Ser Ser Glu Glu Glu Gly Asp Arg 115 120 125Val Glu Glu Asp Gly Lys Gly Lys Arg Lys Asn Glu Lys Ala Gly Ser 130 135140 Lys Arg Lys Lys Ser Tyr Thr Ser Lys Lys Ser Ser Lys Gln Ser Arg 145150 155 160 Lys Ser Pro Gly Asp Glu Asp Asp Lys Asp Cys Lys Glu Glu GluAsn 165 170 175 Lys Ser Ser Ser Glu Gly Gly Asp Ala Gly Asn Asp Thr ArgAsn Thr 180 185 190 Thr Ser Asp Leu Gln Lys Thr Ser Glu Gly Thr 195 20042 253 PRT Homo sapiens 42 Met Arg Ser Gly Lys Met Ala Pro Lys Pro GlnSer Arg Cys Thr Ser 1 5 10 15 Thr Arg Ser Ala Gly Glu Ala Pro Ser GluAsn Gln Ser Pro Ser Lys 20 25 30 Gly Pro Glu Glu Ala Ser Ser Glu Val GlnAsp Thr Asn Glu Val His 35 40 45 Val Pro Gly Asp Gln Asp Glu Pro Gln ThrLeu Gly Lys Lys Gly Ser 50 55 60 Lys Asn Asn Ile Ser Val Tyr Met Thr LeuAsn Gln Lys Lys Ser Asp 65 70 75 80 Ser Ser Ser Ala Ser Val Cys Ser IleAsp Ser Thr Asp Asp Leu Lys 85 90 95 Ser Ser Asn Ser Glu Cys Ser Ser SerGlu Ser Phe Asp Phe Pro Pro 100 105 110 Gly Ser Met His Ala Pro Ser ThrSer Ser Thr Ser Ser Ser Ser Lys 115 120 125 Glu Glu Lys Lys Leu Ser AsnSer Leu Lys Met Lys Val Phe Ser Lys 130 135 140 Asn Val Ser Lys Cys ValThr Pro Asp Gly Arg Thr Ile Cys Val Gly 145 150 155 160 Asp Ile Val TrpAla Lys Ile Tyr Gly Phe Pro Trp Trp Pro Ala Arg 165 170 175 Ile Leu ThrIle Thr Val Ser Arg Lys Asp Asn Gly Leu Leu Val Arg 180 185 190 Gln GluAla Arg Ile Ser Trp Phe Gly Ser Pro Thr Thr Ser Phe Leu 195 200 205 AlaLeu Ser Gln Leu Ser Pro Phe Leu Glu Asn Phe Gln Ser Arg Phe 210 215 220Asn Lys Lys Arg Lys Gly Leu Tyr Arg Lys Ala Ile Thr Glu Ala Ala 225 230235 240 Lys Ala Ala Lys Gln Leu Thr Pro Glu Val Arg Ala Cys 245 250 43314 PRT Homo sapiens 43 Met Pro His Ala Phe Lys Pro Gly Asp Leu Val PheAla Lys Met Lys 1 5 10 15 Gly Tyr Pro His Trp Pro Ala Arg Ile Asp AspIle Ala Asp Gly Ala 20 25 30 Val Lys Pro Pro Pro Asn Lys Tyr Pro Ile PhePhe Phe Gly Thr His 35 40 45 Glu Thr Ala Phe Leu Gly Pro Lys Asp Leu PhePro Tyr Asp Lys Cys 50 55 60 Lys Asp Lys Tyr Gly Lys Pro Asn Lys Arg LysGly Phe Asn Glu Gly 65 70 75 80 Leu Trp Glu Ile Gln Asn Asn Pro His AlaSer Tyr Ser Ala Pro Pro 85 90 95 Pro Val Ser Ser Ser Asp Ser Glu Ala ProGlu Ala Asn Pro Ala Asp 100 105 110 Gly Ser Asp Ala Asp Glu Asp Asp GluAsp Arg Gly Val Met Ala Val 115 120 125 Thr Ala Val Thr Ala Thr Ala AlaSer Asp Arg Met Glu Ser Asp Ser 130 135 140 Asp Ser Asp Lys Ser Ser AspAsn Ser Gly Leu Lys Arg Lys Thr Pro 145 150 155 160 Ala Leu Lys Met SerVal Ser Lys Arg Ala Arg Lys Ala Ser Ser Asp 165 170 175 Leu Asp Gln AlaSer Val Ser Pro Ser Glu Glu Glu Asn Ser Glu Ser 180 185 190 Ser Ser GluSer Glu Lys Thr Ser Asp Gln Asp Phe Thr Pro Glu Lys 195 200 205 Lys AlaAla Val Arg Ala Pro Arg Arg Gly Pro Leu Gly Gly Arg Lys 210 215 220 LysLys Lys Ala Pro Ser Ala Ser Asp Ser Asp Ser Lys Ala Asp Ser 225 230 235240 Asp Gly Ala Lys Pro Glu Pro Val Ala Met Ala Arg Ser Ala Ser Ser 245250 255 Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Ser Asp Ser Asp Val Ser Val Lys Lys260 265 270 Pro Pro Arg Gly Arg Lys Pro Thr Glu Lys Pro Leu Pro Lys ProArg 275 280 285 Gly Arg Lys Pro Lys Pro Glu Arg Pro Pro Ser Ser Ser SerSer Asp 290 295 300 Ser Asp Ser Asp Glu Val Asp Arg Ile Thr 305 310 4486 PRT Homo sapiens 44 Met Asn Arg Gly Asp Phe Leu Leu Ser Val Asn GlyAla Ser Leu Ala 1 5 10 15 Gly Leu Ala His Gly Asn Val Leu Lys Val LeuHis Gln Ala Gln Leu 20 25 30 His Lys Asp Ala Leu Val Val Ile Lys Lys GlyMet Asp Gln Pro Arg 35 40 45 Pro Ser Ala Arg Gln Glu Pro Pro Thr Ala AsnGly Lys Gly Leu Leu 50 55 60 Ser Arg Lys Thr Ile Pro Leu Glu Pro Gly IleGly Lys Met Ile Ile 65 70 75 80 Ser Thr Thr Ser Arg Leu 85 45 167 PRTHomo sapiens 45 Met Ala Ala Ser Val Cys Ser Gly Leu Leu Gly Pro Arg ValLeu Ser 1 5 10 15 Trp Ser Arg Glu Leu Pro Cys Ala Trp Arg Ala Leu HisThr Ser Pro 20 25 30 Val Cys Ala Lys Asn Arg Ala Ala Arg Val Arg Val SerLys Gly Asp 35 40 45 Lys Pro Val Thr Tyr Glu Glu Ala His Ala Pro His TyrIle Ala His 50 55 60 Arg Lys Gly Trp Leu Ser Leu His Thr Gly Asn Leu AspGly Glu Asp 65 70 75 80 His Ala Ala Glu Arg Thr Val Glu Asp Val Phe LeuArg Lys Phe Met 85 90 95 Trp Gly Thr Phe Pro Gly Cys Leu Ala Asp Gln LeuVal Leu Lys Arg 100 105 110 Arg Gly Asn Gln Leu Glu Ile Cys Ala Val ValLeu Arg Gln Leu Ser 115 120 125 Pro His Lys Tyr Tyr Phe Leu Val Gly TyrSer Glu Thr Leu Leu Ser 130 135 140 Tyr Phe Tyr Lys Cys Pro Val Arg LeuHis Leu Gln Thr Val Pro Ser 145 150 155 160 Lys Val Val Tyr Lys Tyr Leu165 46 281 PRT Homo sapiens 46 Met Gly Ser Arg Gly Gln Gly Leu Leu LeuAla Tyr Cys Leu Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Ala Phe Ala Ser Gly Leu Val Leu SerArg Val Pro His Val Gln Gly 20 25 30 Glu Gln Gln Glu Trp Glu Gly Thr GluGlu Leu Pro Ser Pro Pro Asp 35 40 45 His Ala Glu Arg Ala Glu Glu Gln HisGlu Lys Tyr Arg Pro Ser Gln 50 55 60 Asp Gln Gly Leu Pro Ala Ser Arg CysLeu Arg Cys Cys Asp Pro Gly 65 70 75 80 Thr Ser Met Tyr Pro Ala Thr AlaVal Pro Gln Ile Asn Ile Thr Ile 85 90 95 Leu Lys Gly Glu Lys Gly Asp ArgGly Asp Arg Gly Leu Gln Gly Lys 100 105 110 Tyr Gly Lys Thr Gly Ser AlaGly Ala Arg Gly His Thr Gly Pro Lys 115 120 125 Gly Gln Lys Gly Ser MetGly Ala Pro Gly Glu Arg Cys Lys Ser His 130 135 140 Tyr Ala Ala Phe SerVal Gly Arg Lys Lys Pro Met His Ser Asn His 145 150 155 160 Tyr Tyr GlnThr Val Ile Phe Asp Thr Glu Phe Val Asn Leu Tyr Asp 165 170 175 His PheAsn Met Phe Thr Gly Lys Phe Tyr Cys Tyr Val Pro Gly Leu 180 185 190 TyrPhe Phe Ser Leu Asn Val His Thr Trp Asn Gln Lys Glu Thr Tyr 195 200 205Leu His Ile Met Lys Asn Glu Glu Glu Val Ala Ile Leu Phe Ala Gln 210 215220 Val Gly Asp Arg Ser Ile Met Gln Ser Gln Ser Leu Met Leu Glu Leu 225230 235 240 Arg Glu Gln Asp Gln Val Trp Val Arg Leu Tyr Lys Gly Glu ArgGlu 245 250 255 Asn Ala Ile Phe Ser Glu Glu Leu Asp Thr Tyr Ile Thr PheSer Gly 260 265 270 Tyr Leu Val Lys His Ala Thr Glu Pro 275 280 47 105PRT Homo sapiens 47 Met Lys Gly Ser Arg Ala Leu Leu Leu Val Ala Leu ThrLeu Phe Cys 1 5 10 15 Ile Cys Arg Met Ala Thr Gly Glu Asp Asn Asp GluPhe Phe Met Asp 20 25 30 Phe Leu Gln Thr Leu Leu Val Gly Thr Pro Glu GluLeu Tyr Glu Gly 35 40 45 Thr Leu Gly Lys Tyr Asn Val Asn Glu Asp Ala LysAla Ala Met Thr 50 55 60 Glu Leu Lys Ser Cys Ile Asp Gly Leu Gln Pro MetHis Lys Ala Glu 65 70 75 80 Leu Val Lys Leu Leu Val Gln Val Leu Gly SerGln Asp Gly Ala Gly 85 90 95 Thr Asp Tyr Lys Asp Asp Asp Asp Lys 100 10548 595 PRT Homo sapiens 48 Met Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Leu Pro Pro LeuLeu Cys Gly Arg Val 1 5 10 15 Gly Ala Lys Glu Gln Lys Asp Tyr Leu LeuThr Met Gln Lys Ser Val 20 25 30 Thr Val Gln Glu Gly Leu Cys Val Ser ValLeu Cys Ser Phe Ser Tyr 35 40 45 Pro Gln Asn Gly Trp Thr Ala Ser Asp ProVal His Gly Tyr Trp Phe 50 55 60 Arg Ala Gly Asp His Val Ser Arg Asn IlePro Val Ala Thr Asn Asn 65 70 75 80 Pro Ala Arg Ala Val Gln Glu Glu ThrArg Asp Arg Phe His Leu Leu 85 90 95 Gly Asp Pro Gln Asn Lys Asp Cys ThrLeu Ser Ile Arg Asp Thr Arg 100 105 110 Glu Ser Asp Ala Gly Thr Tyr ValPhe Cys Val Glu Arg Gly Asn Met 115 120 125 Lys Trp Asn Tyr Lys Tyr AspGln Leu Ser Val Asn Val Thr Ala Ser 130 135 140 Gln Asp Leu Leu Ser ArgTyr Arg Leu Glu Val Pro Glu Ser Val Thr 145 150 155 160 Val Gln Glu GlyLeu Cys Val Ser Val Pro Cys Ser Val Leu Tyr Pro 165 170 175 His Tyr AsnTrp Thr Ala Ser Ser Pro Val Tyr Gly Ser Trp Phe Lys 180 185 190 Glu GlyAla Asp Ile Pro Trp Asp Ile Pro Val Ala Thr Asn Thr Pro 195 200 205 SerGly Lys Val Gln Glu Asp Thr His Gly Arg Phe Leu Leu Leu Gly 210 215 220Asp Pro Gln Thr Asn Asn Cys Ser Leu Ser Ile Arg Asp Ala Arg Lys 225 230235 240 Gly Asp Ser Gly Lys Tyr Tyr Phe Gln Val Glu Arg Gly Ser Arg Lys245 250 255 Trp Asn Tyr Ile Tyr Asp Lys Leu Ser Val His Val Thr Ala LeuThr 260 265 270 His Met Pro Thr Phe Ser Ile Pro Gly Thr Leu Glu Ser GlyHis Pro 275 280 285 Arg Asn Leu Thr Cys Ser Val Pro Trp Ala Cys Glu GlnGly Thr Pro 290 295 300 Pro Thr Ile Thr Trp Met Gly Ala Ser Val Ser SerLeu Asp Pro Thr 305 310 315 320 Ile Thr Arg Ser Ser Met Leu Ser Leu IlePro Gln Pro Gln Asp His 325 330 335 Gly Thr Ser Leu Thr Cys Gln Val ThrLeu Pro Gly Ala Gly Val Thr 340 345 350 Met Thr Arg Ala Val Arg Leu AsnIle Ser Tyr Pro Pro Gln Asn Leu 355 360 365 Thr Met Thr Val Phe Gln GlyAsp Gly Thr Ala Ser Thr Thr Leu Arg 370 375 380 Asn Gly Ser Ala Leu SerVal Leu Glu Gly Gln Ser Leu His Leu Val 385 390 395 400 Cys Ala Val AspSer Asn Pro Pro Ala Arg Leu Ser Trp Thr Trp Gly 405 410 415 Ser Leu ThrLeu Ser Pro Ser Gln Ser Ser Asn Leu Gly Val Leu Glu 420 425 430 Leu ProArg Val His Val Lys Asp Glu Gly Glu Phe Thr Cys Arg Ala 435 440 445 GlnAsn Pro Leu Gly Ser Gln His Ile Ser Leu Ser Leu Ser Leu Gln 450 455 460Asn Glu Tyr Thr Gly Lys Met Arg Pro Ile Ser Gly Val Thr Leu Gly 465 470475 480 Ala Phe Gly Gly Ala Gly Ala Thr Ala Leu Val Phe Leu Tyr Phe Cys485 490 495 Ile Ile Phe Val Val Val Arg Ser Cys Arg Lys Lys Ser Ala ArgPro 500 505 510 Ala Val Gly Val Gly Asp Thr Gly Met Glu Asp Ala Asn AlaVal Arg 515 520 525 Gly Ser Ala Ser Gln Gly Pro Leu Ile Glu Ser Pro AlaAsp Asp Ser 530 535 540 Pro Pro His His Ala Pro Pro Ala Leu Ala Thr ProSer Pro Glu Glu 545 550 555 560 Gly Glu Ile Gln Tyr Ala Ser Leu Ser PheHis Lys Ala Arg Pro Gln 565 570 575 Tyr Pro Gln Glu Gln Glu Ala Ile GlyTyr Glu Tyr Ser Glu Ile Asn 580 585 590 Ile Pro Lys 595 49 143 PRT Homosapiens 49 Met Glu Lys Phe Pro Trp Gln Lys Leu Arg Val Arg Thr Gly CysGly 1 5 10 15 Gly Pro Gln Val Cys Gly Gly Tyr His Leu Cys Leu Ala ValLeu Met 20 25 30 Gly Ile Pro Ser Pro Arg Glu Gly Cys Arg Ser Trp Asp ValAla Ala 35 40 45 Glu Val Trp Thr Gln Arg Pro Arg Ala Ala Val Leu Leu LeuThr Gly 50 55 60 Gly Gly Glu Arg Thr Pro Arg Thr Gln Pro Gly Thr Glu GluAla Thr 65 70 75 80 Gly Pro Gly Ala Cys Ala Gly Trp Ile Ala Gln Asp ThrPro Asn Pro 85 90 95 Phe Ser Lys Ala Gly Ala Gly Ala Gly Gly Glu Gly ThrArg Gln Ser 100 105 110 Ala Gly Arg Ala Gly Gly Glu Pro Gly Gly Gly GlyGlu Gly Pro Trp 115 120 125 Val Arg Val Ser Trp Pro Pro Leu Leu Gln GlyArg Gln Gly Gly 130 135 140 50 196 PRT Homo sapiens 50 Met Leu Ser LeuGlu Phe Leu Ser Trp Ser Val Ser Pro Phe Pro Ser 1 5 10 15 Pro Arg HisPro Ser Thr Pro His Arg Ser His Arg Ala Ser Pro His 20 25 30 Pro Asp ArgPro Pro Lys Asn Lys Gly Glu Val Ile Arg Ala Ser Ala 35 40 45 Ala Ser ArgGln Thr Gln Gln Cys Arg Val Gly Val Leu Gly Val Leu 50 55 60 Asp Asp ProGly Pro Glu Leu Glu Leu Gln Glu Ala Ala Val Val Val 65 70 75 80 Arg ArgLeu Arg His Glu Ala Gly Lys Gly Gln Gly His Gln Arg Leu 85 90 95 Gln GluVal Leu Gly Lys Leu His Ile Leu Pro Val Val Gln Pro Arg 100 105 110 ValLeu Gly His Asp Ala Ile Ala Gly Val Glu Gly Pro Gln Val His 115 120 125Val Gln Val Val Ala Phe Ala Val Leu His Ala Glu Lys Val Ala Leu 130 135140 Asp Arg Leu Leu Pro Tyr Glu Ala Ala Leu Ile His His Arg Ala Gly 145150 155 160 Leu Cys Pro Pro Gln Leu Leu Ala Val Ala His Val Leu Gln ValAsp 165 170 175 Ala Gln Val His Val Val Val Pro Trp Asp Asp Val Pro ValAla Gly 180 185 190 Gly Pro Gln Gln 195 51 160 PRT Homo sapiens 51 MetArg Glu Gly Trp His Trp Gln Glu Glu Ser Thr Arg Thr Arg Met 1 5 10 15Gly Ser Asp Leu Gln Ile Tyr Gln Met Val Met Pro Thr Gly Ser Arg 20 25 30Gly Tyr Ala Trp Gly His Pro Gly Ser Ser Gln Ser Trp Arg Glu Thr 35 40 45Gly Met Ser Arg Arg Pro Ala Gly Pro Ser Thr Ala Pro Asp Pro Lys 50 55 60Lys Val Phe Cys Pro Arg Phe Arg Glu Pro Cys Ala Leu Gly Gln Gly 65 70 7580 Gln Ser Phe Gly Asn Ser Ala Gly Ser Gly Ala Arg Leu Ala Arg Phe 85 9095 Lys Ser Trp Leu Tyr Arg Phe Gly Ala Arg Trp Ala Trp Gly Gly Val 100105 110 Ala Val Ser Leu Cys Leu Ser Cys Phe Gln Asp Ala Gly Pro Leu Ala115 120 125 Ala Gly Val Ala Ser Ala Thr Arg Gly Arg Ala Gly Pro Ala ProGly 130 135 140 Gly Pro Leu Trp Leu Pro Gly Asp Ser Thr Pro Arg Ala CysVal Pro 145 150 155 160 52 226 PRT Homo sapiens 52 Met Val Gln Gln GlyLeu Leu Lys Asn Gly Ala His Gln Cys Ala His 1 5 10 15 Leu Ile Cys IleAsn Glu Ala His Val Gly Gly Gly His Arg Glu Leu 20 25 30 Asp Ile Pro GlnHis Arg Arg Gly Pro Leu Lys Leu His Leu Gly His 35 40 45 Arg Glu Leu GluSer Gln Val His Tyr His Ile Gln Gly Glu Glu Gly 50 55 60 Leu Glu Ser ArgVal Gly Gly Cys Gly Gln Asp Leu His Glu Gly Leu 65 70 75 80 Gln Pro GlnGly Gly Val Val Cys Val Glu His Gly His Arg Cys Gly 85 90 95 Thr Gln ProHis Leu Glu His His Arg His Gly Leu Gly Lys Leu Ala 100 105 110 Gly HisLeu Arg Asp Glu Pro Ala Gln Ser Arg Gly Val Gln Gln Val 115 120 125 ValIle Arg Pro Gln Leu Pro Cys Asp Val Gln Val Glu Gly Thr Gly 130 135 140Leu Leu Gln Gln Gln Glu Arg Arg Val Lys Gln Leu Leu Gly Glu Ala 145 150155 160 His Gly Gly His Gly Ala Leu Gly Thr His Met Pro Trp Gln His Lys165 170 175 Arg Gly Gly Ile Arg Gly Gln Asp Asp Gly Leu Ala Gln Gln GluGlu 180 185 190 Asn Ser Ile Asp Phe Gln Gly Asn Val Val Thr Gly Asp SerGly His 195 200 205 Thr Asp His Gly Ile Ala Asp Leu Gly Leu Arg Thr HisGly Val Glu 210 215 220 Ala Asn 225 53 164 PRT Homo sapiens 53 Pro GlyArg Pro Thr Arg Pro Leu Lys Phe Val Ile Leu His Ala Glu 1 5 10 15 AspAsp Thr Asp Glu Ala Leu Arg Val Gln Asn Leu Leu Gln Asp Asp 20 25 30 PheGly Ile Lys Pro Gly Ile Ile Phe Ala Glu Met Pro Cys Gly Arg 35 40 45 GlnHis Leu Gln Asn Leu Asp Asp Ala Val Asn Gly Ser Ala Trp Thr 50 55 60 IleLeu Leu Leu Thr Glu Asn Phe Leu Arg Asp Thr Trp Cys Asn Phe 65 70 75 80Gln Phe Tyr Thr Ser Leu Met Asn Ser Val Asn Arg Gln His Lys Tyr 85 90 95Asn Ser Val Ile Pro Met Arg Pro Leu Asn Asn Pro Leu Pro Arg Glu 100 105110 Arg Thr Pro Phe Ala Leu Gln Thr Ile Asn Ala Leu Glu Glu Glu Ser 115120 125 Arg Gly Phe Pro Thr Gln Val Glu Arg Ile Phe Gln Glu Ser Val Tyr130 135 140 Lys Thr Gln Gln Thr Ile Trp Lys Glu Thr Arg Asn Met Val GlnArg 145 150 155 160 Gln Phe Ile Ala 54 314 PRT Homo sapiens 54 Arg ValAsp Pro Arg Val Arg Gly Arg Val Gly Phe Glu Ser Leu Lys 1 5 10 15 SerAsp Phe Asn Lys Tyr Trp Val Pro Cys Val Trp Phe Thr Asn Leu 20 25 30 AlaAla Gln Ala Arg Arg Asp Gly Arg Ile Arg Asp Asp Ile Ala Leu 35 40 45 CysLeu Leu Leu Glu Glu Leu Asn Lys Tyr Arg Ala Lys Cys Ser Met 50 55 60 LeuPhe His Tyr Asp Trp Ile Ser Ile Pro Leu Val Tyr Thr Gln Val 65 70 75 80Val Thr Ile Ala Val Tyr Ser Phe Phe Ala Leu Ser Leu Val Gly Arg 85 90 95Gln Phe Val Glu Pro Glu Ala Gly Ala Ala Lys Pro Gln Lys Leu Leu 100 105110 Lys Pro Gly Gln Glu Pro Ala Pro Ala Leu Gly Asp Pro Asp Met Tyr 115120 125 Val Pro Leu Thr Thr Leu Leu Gln Phe Phe Phe Tyr Ala Gly Trp Leu130 135 140 Lys Val Ala Glu Gln Ile Ile Asn Pro Phe Gly Glu Asp Asp AspAsp 145 150 155 160 Phe Glu Thr Asn Gln Leu Ile Asp Arg Asn Leu Gln ValSer Leu Leu 165 170 175 Ser Val Asp Glu Met Tyr Gln Asn Leu Pro Pro AlaGlu Lys Asp Gln 180 185 190 Tyr Trp Asp Glu Asp Gln Pro Gln Pro Pro TyrThr Val Ala Thr Ala 195 200 205 Ala Glu Ser Leu Arg Pro Ser Phe Leu GlySer Thr Phe Asn Leu Arg 210 215 220 Met Ser Asp Asp Pro Glu Gln Ser LeuGln Val Glu Ala Ser Pro Gly 225 230 235 240 Ser Gly Arg Pro Ala Pro AlaAla Gln Thr Pro Leu Leu Gly Arg Phe 245 250 255 Leu Gly Val Gly Ala ProSer Pro Ala Ile Ser Leu Arg Asn Phe Gly 260 265 270 Arg Val Arg Gly ThrPro Arg Pro Pro His Leu Leu Arg Phe Arg Ala 275 280 285 Glu Glu Gly GlyAsp Pro Glu Ala Ala Ala Arg Ile Glu Glu Glu Ser 290 295 300 Ala Glu SerGly Asp Glu Ala Leu Glu Pro 305 310 55 196 PRT Homo sapiens 55 Asn ThrThr His Tyr Arg Glu Ser Trp Tyr Ala Cys Arg Tyr Arg Ser 1 5 10 15 GlyIle Pro Gly Ser Thr His Ala Ser Ala Gly Ser Val Ala Asp Ser 20 25 30 AspAla Val Val Lys Leu Asp Asp Gly His Leu Asn Asn Ser Leu Ser 35 40 45 SerPro Val Gln Ala Asp Val Tyr Phe Pro Arg Leu Ile Val Pro Phe 50 55 60 CysGly His Ile Lys Gly Gly Met Arg Pro Gly Lys Lys Val Leu Val 65 70 75 80Met Gly Ile Val Asp Leu Asn Pro Glu Ser Phe Ala Ile Ser Leu Thr 85 90 95Cys Gly Asp Ser Glu Asp Pro Pro Ala Asp Val Ala Ile Glu Leu Lys 100 105110 Ala Val Phe Thr Asp Arg Gln Leu Leu Arg Asn Ser Cys Ile Ser Gly 115120 125 Glu Arg Gly Glu Glu Gln Ser Ala Ile Pro Tyr Phe Pro Phe Ile Pro130 135 140 Asp Gln Pro Phe Arg Val Glu Ile Leu Cys Glu His Pro Arg PheArg 145 150 155 160 Val Phe Val Asp Gly His Gln Leu Phe Asp Phe Tyr HisArg Ile Gln 165 170 175 Thr Leu Ser Ala Ile Asp Thr Ile Lys Ile Asn GlyAsp Leu Gln Ile 180 185 190 Thr Lys Leu Gly 195 56 231 PRT Homo sapiens56 Leu Arg Ala Ala Leu Pro Ala Leu Leu Leu Pro Leu Leu Gly Leu Ala 1 510 15 Ala Ala Ala Val Ala Asp Cys Pro Ser Ser Thr Trp Ile Gln Phe Gln 2025 30 Asp Ser Cys Tyr Ile Phe Leu Gln Glu Ala Ile Lys Val Glu Ser Ile 3540 45 Glu Asp Val Arg Asn Gln Cys Thr Asp His Gly Ala Asp Met Ile Ser 5055 60 Ile His Asn Glu Glu Glu Asn Ala Phe Ile Leu Asp Thr Leu Lys Lys 6570 75 80 Gln Trp Lys Gly Pro Asp Asp Ile Leu Leu Gly Met Phe Tyr Asp Thr85 90 95 Asp Asp Ala Ser Phe Lys Trp Phe Asp Asn Ser Asn Met Thr Phe Asp100 105 110 Lys Trp Thr Asp Gln Asp Asp Asp Glu Asp Leu Val Asp Thr CysAla 115 120 125 Phe Leu His Ile Lys Thr Gly Glu Trp Lys Lys Gly Asn CysGlu Val 130 135 140 Ser Ser Val Glu Gly Thr Leu Cys Lys Thr Ala Ile ProTyr Lys Arg 145 150 155 160 Lys Tyr Leu Ser Asp Asn His Ile Leu Ile SerAla Leu Val Ile Ala 165 170 175 Ser Thr Val Ile Leu Thr Val Leu Gly AlaIle Ile Trp Phe Leu Tyr 180 185 190 Lys Lys His Ser Asp Ser Arg Phe ThrThr Val Phe Ser Thr Ala Pro 195 200 205 Gln Ser Pro Tyr Asn Glu Asp CysVal Leu Val Val Gly Glu Glu Asn 210 215 220 Glu Tyr Pro Val Gln Phe Asp225 230 57 367 PRT Homo sapiens 57 Met Ser Ser Asn Gly Ile Pro Glu CysTyr Ala Glu Glu Asp Glu Phe 1 5 10 15 Ser Gly Leu Glu Thr Asp Thr AlaVal Pro Thr Glu Glu Ala Tyr Val 20 25 30 Ile Tyr Asp Glu Asp Tyr Glu PheGlu Thr Ser Arg Pro Pro Thr Thr 35 40 45 Thr Glu Pro Ser Thr Thr Ala ThrThr Pro Arg Val Ile Pro Glu Glu 50 55 60 Gly Ala Ile Ser Ser Phe Pro GluGlu Glu Phe Asp Leu Ala Gly Arg 65 70 75 80 Lys Arg Phe Val Ala Pro TyrVal Thr Tyr Leu Asn Lys Asp Pro Ser 85 90 95 Ala Pro Cys Ser Leu Thr AspAla Leu Asp His Phe Gln Val Asp Ser 100 105 110 Leu Asp Glu Ile Ile ProAsn Asp Leu Lys Lys Ser Asp Leu Pro Pro 115 120 125 Gln His Ala Pro ArgAsn Ile Thr Val Val Ala Val Glu Gly Cys His 130 135 140 Ser Phe Val IleVal Asp Trp Asp Lys Ala Thr Pro Gly Asp Val Val 145 150 155 160 Thr GlyTyr Leu Val Tyr Ser Ala Ser Tyr Glu Asp Phe Ile Arg Asn 165 170 175 LysTrp Ser Thr Gln Ala Ser Ser Val Thr His Leu Pro Ile Glu Asn 180 185 190Leu Lys Pro Asn Thr Arg Tyr Tyr Phe Lys Val Gln Ala Gln Asn Pro 195 200205 His Gly Tyr Gly Pro Ile Ser Pro Ser Val Ser Phe Val Thr Glu Ser 210215 220 Asp Asn Pro Leu Leu Val Val Arg Pro Pro Gly Gly Glu Pro Ile Trp225 230 235 240 Ile Pro Phe Ala Phe Lys His Asp Pro Ser Tyr Thr Asp CysHis Gly 245 250 255 Arg Gln Tyr Val Lys Arg Thr Trp Tyr Arg Lys Phe ValGly Val Val 260 265 270 Leu Cys Asn Ser Leu Arg Tyr Lys Ile Tyr Leu SerAsp Asn Leu Lys 275 280 285 Asp Thr Phe Tyr Ser Ile Gly Asp Ser Trp GlyArg Gly Glu Asp His 290 295 300 Cys Gln Phe Val Asp Ser His Leu Asp GlyArg Thr Gly Pro Gln Ser 305 310 315 320 Tyr Val Glu Ala Leu Pro Thr IleGln Gly Tyr Tyr Arg Gln Tyr Arg 325 330 335 Gln Glu Pro Val Arg Phe GlyAsn Ile Gly Phe Gly Thr Pro Tyr Tyr 340 345 350 Tyr Val Gly Trp Tyr GluCys Gly Val Ser Ile Pro Gly Lys Trp 355 360 365 58 565 PRT Homo sapiensSITE (270) Xaa equals any of the naturally occurring L-amino acids 58Met Thr Gly Leu Val Asp Leu Thr Leu Ser Arg Asn Ala Ile Thr Arg 1 5 1015 Ile Gly Ala Arg Ala Phe Gly Asp Leu Glu Ser Leu Arg Ser Leu His 20 2530 Leu Asp Gly Asn Arg Leu Val Glu Leu Gly Thr Gly Ser Leu Arg Gly 35 4045 Pro Val Asn Leu Gln His Leu Ile Leu Ser Gly Asn Gln Leu Gly Arg 50 5560 Ile Ala Pro Gly Ala Phe Asp Asp Phe Leu Glu Ser Leu Glu Asp Leu 65 7075 80 Asp Leu Ser Tyr Asn Asn Leu Arg Gln Val Pro Trp Ala Gly Ile Gly 8590 95 Ala Met Pro Ala Leu His Thr Leu Asn Leu Asp His Asn Leu Ile Asp100 105 110 Ala Leu Pro Pro Gly Ala Phe Ala Gln Leu Gly Gln Leu Ser ArgLeu 115 120 125 Asp Leu Thr Ser Asn Arg Leu Ala Thr Leu Ala Pro Asp ProLeu Phe 130 135 140 Ser Arg Gly Arg Asp Ala Glu Ala Ser Pro Ala Pro LeuVal Leu Ser 145 150 155 160 Phe Ser Gly Asn Pro Leu His Cys Asn Cys GluLeu Leu Trp Leu Arg 165 170 175 Arg Leu Ala Arg Pro Asp Asp Leu Glu ThrCys Ala Ser Pro Pro Gly 180 185 190 Leu Ala Gly Arg Tyr Phe Trp Ala ValPro Glu Gly Glu Phe Ser Cys 195 200 205 Glu Pro Pro Leu Ile Ala Arg HisThr Gln Arg Leu Trp Val Leu Glu 210 215 220 Gly Gln Arg Ala Thr Leu ArgCys Arg Ala Leu Gly Asp Pro Ala Pro 225 230 235 240 Thr Met His Trp ValGly Pro Asp Asp Arg Leu Val Gly Asn Ser Ser 245 250 255 Arg Ala Arg AlaPhe Pro Asn Gly Thr Leu Glu Ile Gly Xaa Thr Gly 260 265 270 Ala Gly AspAla Gly Gly Tyr Thr Cys Ile Ala Thr Asn Pro Ala Gly 275 280 285 Glu AlaThr Ala Arg Val Glu Leu Arg Val Leu Ala Leu Pro His Gly 290 295 300 GlyAsn Ser Ser Ala Glu Gly Gly Arg Pro Gly Pro Ser Asp Ile Ala 305 310 315320 Ala Ser Ala Arg Thr Ala Ala Glu Gly Glu Gly Thr Leu Glu Ser Glu 325330 335 Pro Ala Val Gln Val Thr Glu Val Thr Ala Thr Ser Gly Leu Val Ser340 345 350 Trp Gly Pro Gly Arg Pro Ala Asp Pro Val Trp Met Phe Gln IleGln 355 360 365 Tyr Asn Ser Ser Glu Asp Glu Thr Leu Ile Tyr Arg Ile ValPro Ala 370 375 380 Ser Ser His His Phe Leu Leu Lys His Leu Val Pro GlyAla Asp Tyr 385 390 395 400 Asp Leu Cys Leu Leu Ala Leu Ser Pro Ala AlaGly Pro Ser Asp Leu 405 410 415 Thr Ala Thr Arg Leu Leu Gly Cys Ala HisPhe Ser Thr Leu Pro Ala 420 425 430 Ser Pro Leu Cys His Ala Leu Gln AlaHis Val Leu Gly Gly Thr Leu 435 440 445 Thr Val Ala Val Gly Gly Val LeuVal Ala Ala Leu Leu Val Phe Thr 450 455 460 Val Ala Leu Leu Val Arg GlyArg Gly Ala Gly Asn Gly Arg Leu Pro 465 470 475 480 Leu Lys Leu Ser HisVal Gln Ser Gln Thr Asn Gly Gly Pro Ser Pro 485 490 495 Thr Pro Lys AlaHis Pro Pro Arg Ser Pro Pro Pro Arg Pro Gln Arg 500 505 510 Ser Cys SerLeu Asp Leu Gly Asp Ala Gly Cys Tyr Gly Tyr Ala Arg 515 520 525 Arg LeuGly Gly Ala Trp Ala Arg Arg Ser His Ser Val His Gly Gly 530 535 540 LeuLeu Gly Ala Gly Cys Arg Gly Val Gly Gly Ser Ala Glu Arg Leu 545 550 555560 Glu Glu Ser Val Val 565 59 139 PRT Homo sapiens 59 Met Glu Lys AlaLys Glu Arg Met Lys Lys Gln Ala Gln Asn Gly Lys 1 5 10 15 Ser His IleLeu Gln Arg Asn Pro Leu Asn Ser Pro Gly Asn Leu Gln 20 25 30 Glu Met LysMet Thr Lys Thr Ala Lys Lys Arg Lys Thr Lys Ala Ala 35 40 45 Leu Arg ValGlu Met Arg Ala Thr Thr Gln Glu Thr Gln Leu Gln Thr 50 55 60 Cys Arg LysPro Val Lys Gly Pro Asn Tyr His Asn Glu Cys Cys Ile 65 70 75 80 Leu ArgGlu Thr Thr Arg Arg Leu Tyr Val Trp Leu Ser Asn Ile Leu 85 90 95 Gly PheAsp Met Asn Gln His Ile Val Leu Val Val Ile Asp Arg Thr 100 105 110 ProVal Cys Met Tyr Ile Ile His Ile Pro Leu Cys Cys Val Ser Gly 115 120 125Gly Lys Asp Ile Leu Ala Phe Phe Lys Ser Tyr 130 135 60 145 PRT Homosapiens 60 Met Ala Arg Pro Arg Pro Arg Glu Tyr Lys Ala Gly Asp Leu ValPhe 1 5 10 15 Ala Lys Met Lys Gly Tyr Pro His Trp Pro Ala Arg Ile AspGlu Leu 20 25 30 Pro Glu Gly Ala Val Lys Pro Pro Ala Asn Lys Tyr Pro IlePhe Phe 35 40 45 Phe Gly Thr His Glu Thr Ala Phe Leu Gly Pro Lys Asp LeuPhe Pro 50 55 60 Tyr Lys Glu Tyr Lys Asp Lys Phe Gly Lys Ser Asn Lys ArgLys Gly 65 70 75 80 Phe Asn Glu Gly Leu Trp Glu Ile Glu Asn Asn Pro GlyVal Lys Phe 85 90 95 Thr Gly Tyr Gln Ala Ile Gln Gln Gln Ser Ser Ser GluThr Glu Gly 100 105 110 Glu Gly Gly Asn Thr Ala Asp Ala Ser Ser Glu GluGlu Gly Asp Arg 115 120 125 Val Glu Glu Asp Gly Lys Gly Lys Lys Lys LysLys Asn Leu Val Pro 130 135 140 Asn 145 61 104 PRT Homo sapiens 61 MetMet Gln Leu Asn Phe Ile Arg Thr Arg Leu Val Gly Thr Gly Val 1 5 10 15Ala Thr Ser Arg Ala Arg Arg Gly Thr Gly Glu Gly Ser Gln Gly Cys 20 25 30His Pro Val Leu Leu Val Ile Val Val Leu Val Ile Gly Thr Gly Thr 35 40 45Val Leu Thr Ala Gln His Leu His Gln Gln Leu Asp Gln Leu Arg Leu 50 55 60Val His Trp Leu Gln Ala Ile Tyr Ala Gly Leu Glu Phe Ser His Cys 65 70 7580 Cys Leu Gly Ile Phe Val Asp Ile Val Leu Ala Gln Gly Pro Leu Ile 85 9095 Glu Leu Leu Trp Gly Pro His Gln 100

What is claimed is:
 1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising apolynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence at least 95% identical to asequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) a polynucleotidefragment of SEQ ID NO:X or a polynucleotide fragment of the cDNAsequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ IDNO:X; (b) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide fragment of SEQ IDNO:Y or a polypeptide fragment encoded by the cDNA sequence included inATCC Deposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X; (c) apolynucleotide encoding a polypeptide domain of SEQ ID NO:Y or apolypeptide domain encoded by the cDNA sequence included in ATCC DepositNo:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X; (d) a polynucleotideencoding a polypeptide epitope of SEQ ID NO:Y or a polypeptide epitopeencoded by the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which ishybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X; (e) a polynucleotide encoding a polypeptideof SEQ ID NO:Y or the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, whichis hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X, having biological activity; (f) apolynucleotide which is a variant of SEQ ID NO:X; (g) a polynucleotidewhich is an allelic variant of SEQ ID NO:X; (h) a polynucleotide whichencodes a species homologue of the SEQ ID NO:Y; (i) a polynucleotidecapable of hybridizing under stringent conditions to any one of thepolynucleotides specified in (a)-(h), wherein said polynucleotide doesnot hybridize under stringent conditions to a nucleic acid moleculehaving a nucleotide sequence of only A residues or of only T residues.2. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1, wherein thepolynucleotide fragment comprises a nucleotide sequence encoding asecreted protein.
 3. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 1,wherein the polynucleotide fragment comprises a nucleotide sequenceencoding the sequence identified as SEQ ID NO:Y or the polypeptideencoded by the cDNA sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z, which ishybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X.
 4. The isolated nucleic acid molecule ofclaim 1, wherein the polynucleotide fragment comprises the entirenucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:X or the cDNA sequence included in ATCCDeposit No:Z, which is hybridizable to SEQ ID NO:X.
 5. The isolatednucleic acid molecule of claim 2, wherein the nucleotide sequencecomprises sequential nucleotide deletions from either the C-terminus orthe N-terminus.
 6. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim 3,wherein the nucleotide sequence comprises sequential nucleotidedeletions from either the C-terminus or the N-terminus.
 7. A recombinantvector comprising the isolated nucleic acid molecule of claim
 1. 8. Amethod of making a recombinant host cell comprising the isolated nucleicacid molecule of claim
 1. 9. A recombinant host cell produced by themethod of claim
 8. 10. The recombinant host cell of claim 9 comprisingvector sequences.
 11. An isolated polypeptide comprising an amino acidsequence at least 95% identical to a sequence selected from the groupconsisting of: (a) a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encodedsequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z; (b) a polypeptide fragment ofSEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z,having biological activity; (c) a polypeptide domain of SEQ ID NO:Y orthe encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z; (d) a polypeptideepitope of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequence included in ATCC DepositNo:Z; (e) a secreted form of SEQ ID NO:Y or the encoded sequenceincluded in ATCC Deposit No:Z; (f) a full length protein of SEQ ID NO:Yor the encoded sequence included in ATCC Deposit No:Z; (g) a variant ofSEQ ID NO:Y; (h) an allelic variant of SEQ ID NO:Y; or (i) a specieshomologue of the SEQ ID NO:Y.
 12. The isolated polypeptide of claim 11,wherein the secreted form or the full length protein comprisessequential amino acid deletions from either the C-terminus or theN-terminus.
 13. An isolated antibody that binds specifically to theisolated polypeptide of claim
 11. 14. A recombinant host cell thatexpresses the isolated polypeptide of claim
 11. 15. A method of makingan isolated polypeptide comprising: (a) culturing the recombinant hostcell of claim 14 under conditions such that said polypeptide isexpressed; and (b) recovering said polypeptide.
 16. The polypeptideproduced by claim
 15. 17. A method for preventing, treating, orameliorating a medical condition, comprising administering to amammalian subject a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptideof claim
 11. 18. A method of diagnosing a pathological condition or asusceptibility to a pathological condition in a subject comprising: (a)determining the presence or absence of a mutation in the polynucleotideof claim 1; and (b) diagnosing a pathological condition or asusceptibility to a pathological condition based on the presence orabsence of said mutation.
 19. A method of diagnosing a pathologicalcondition or a susceptibility to a pathological condition in a subjectcomprising: (a) determining the presence or amount of expression of thepolypeptide of claim 11 in a biological sample; and (b) diagnosing apathological condition or a susceptibility to a pathological conditionbased on the presence or amount of expression of the polypeptide.
 20. Amethod for identifying a binding partner to the polypeptide of claim 11comprising: (a) contacting the polypeptide of claim 11 with a bindingpartner; and (b) determining whether the binding partner effects anactivity of the polypeptide.
 21. The gene corresponding to the cDNAsequence of SEQ ID NO:Y.
 22. A method of identifying an activity in abiological assay, wherein the method comprises: (a) expressing SEQ IDNO:X in a cell; (b) isolating the supernatant; (c) detecting an activityin a biological assay; and (d) identifying the protein in thesupernatant having the activity.
 23. The product produced by the methodof claim 20.